6-Mar-10 10:00 AM CST

Animal Parts Seized From Healers

Johannesburg - Various animal parts of endangered species were confiscated in Gauteng during a police operation this week, a police spokesperson said on Friday.

Animal parts worth over R500 000 were confiscated in a joint operation over three days which focused on Asian and traditional healers, said Senior Superintendent Noxolo Kweza.

The SA Police Service, Interpol, nature conservation groups and others collaborated in the operation.

Leopard, rhino, lion, crocodile, elephant, python and wild dog skins were seized together with leopard and crocodile heads, Kweza said.

Police also confiscated non-SABS approved medicines and Asian medicines suspected to have been imported illegally.

A Chinese woman was arrested in Cyrildene for performing illegal abortions at traditional clinic. Though she was a Chinese-trained doctor, the woman did not have a licence to operate in South Africa, Kweza said.

A South African and a Ghanaian were fined in Pretoria for the possession of animal parts, and an Indian herbalist was fined for the illegal possession of frogs, crabs and 15 starfish.

More arrests could follow once forensic tests verified the authenticity of the body parts, Kweza said.

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