Two German nationals who were detained in the Northern Cape last year have now again been detained on related charges for an alleged incident in Gauteng.
Outside of court, the Germans were detained again.
According to Albi Modise, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environment, Daniel Lohde and Marko Drescher entered into a plea agreement in their trial for the unlawful possession and trading of reptiles and banned substances related to their arrests in November 2021.
On Thursday, July 21, as they were leaving court in Upington, the two were once again taken into custody. According to Modise, there are ongoing investigations, and the guys have been detained again on related crimes.
“Both men have been detained again as a result of ongoing investigations on comparable accusations related to a case in Gauteng. In the Gauteng case, more arrests are anticipated. Soon, the men should appear at Kempton Park magistrate court.
Modise said.
When the men were detained in November 2021, why?
The two Germans were detained as part of a multi-agency reptilian undercover operation, according to Modise.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment’s Green Scorpions, the Hawks, the SAPS, the SANParks environmental crime inspectors, the environmental crime fusion centre, and the Northern Cape department of environmental affairs made up the team that carried out the investigations and made the arrest.
According to Modise, Lohde and Drescher were busted in the Northern Cape grabbing four tortoises, huge ground geckos, armadillo girdled lizards, various lizards, and other reptiles.
While all tortoises are categorised as endangered species, the armadillo girdled lizards are a threatened and protected species in South Africa.
According to reports, the two planned to export the animals illegally.
What kind of plea bargain did Lohde and Drescher reach?
Each of the Germans received a five-year, fully suspended punishment of R175,000. Dresher was required to deposit R100 000 and Lohde R350 000 into the Environment Department’s account.
The funds are being used, according to TimesLIVE, “to ensure that the environmental management inspectorate’s enforcement responsibilities to address the illegal trade of succulents in SA, notably in the Northern Cape,” are carried out properly.