Agreement Mkhari 
SanWild Sanctuary, working with its Counter-Poaching Team, security company Tactico Security, and international tech partner Qulinda, arrested nine illegal miners during a coordinated operation on Friday morning.
The bust followed nearly two months of surveillance and is believed to have exposed a large, well-funded criminal syndicate operating in the area. The suspects include eight Zimbabweans and one Mozambican who had entered South Africa legally before allegedly breaching the 40km fence surrounding the sanctuary.
According to SanWild, the group was dropped off in a new Toyota Fortuner and was found with mining tools, including metal detectors.
“This arrest represents a significant victory,” said Didi Schoeman, Managing Director of SanWild Sanctuary. “It’s a great example of collaboration between our team, Tactico, Qulinda, and the police in tackling wildlife crime.”
SanWild’s security measures include dehorning all rhinos, advanced AI-powered surveillance systems from Qulinda, and rapid-response tactical teams. The sanctuary has not lost a single rhino to poaching since 2020.
Police confirmed the suspects are in custody and will appear in court soon, with the evidence gathered expected to be used to oppose bail.
