RUSIAN MAN ARRESTED AT OR TAMBO WITH LION BONES APPEARED IN COURT
A 43-year-old Russian national Andrei Shvedov, appeared at the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court, facing a charge of contravention of the National Environmental Management Biodiversity (Nemba) Act, following his arrest at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), for having lion bones worth an estimated value of R400 000.
A police official, based at ORTIA deposed an affidavit, detailing how Shvedov, was handed over to the South African Police Service East Rand Serious Organised Crime investigation unit, after he was brought to the community service centre (CSC), by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials, who had exhibit bags, containing lion bones. On arrival at CSC, the officials explained that the bags were offloaded from a Qatar Airline.
Further investigations suggested that Shevdov was en route to Vietnam via Qatar.
The case was postponed to 11 July 2023 for a formal bail hearing, and the accused is remanded in custody.
