Kimberley - The vigilance of a Springbok SAPS K9 team led to the arrest of three suspects found in possession of rhino horns and protected plants in Springbok on Monday, 11 November 2024. The police received information about an unknown vehicle transporting rhino horns on the R355 road between Springbok and Gamoep. The intelligence was operationalised and a vehicle checkpoint (VCP) was set up on the said road to stop and search all vehicles. The police K9 protected species dog, Ozzy positively responded the luggage in one of the vehicles stopped and searched. The team found protected plants with an estimated value of R45 400-00 and rhino horns valued at approximately R449 000.00 and arrested a female and two male suspects aged 23, 47 and 56 respectively. The trio will appear in the Springbok Magistrate Court on Tuesday, 12 November 2024. The Namakwa District Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, thanked the community for being the eyes and ears of the police, by reporting criminality, enabling the police to act swiftly. He reiterated that the SAPS, with the assistance of stakeholders, will squeeze the space for criminals to operate.