Key Facts

• The man was caught at Cape Town airport after police received information about him.
• He concealed 150 venomous scorpions between his clothes in his luggage.
• The arrest was made under the Nature and Environmental Ordinance Act related to possession of wild animals.
• The scorpions were wrapped individually in plastic and are now kept for safekeeping and value assessment.
• Wildlife trafficking is a major problem in South Africa, which has many different animal species.
• Criminal groups often traffic animals like rhinos, elephants, pangolins, reptiles, and other wildlife.
• Earlier, six people were charged in South Africa for involvement in illegal rhino horn trading.
• A scorpion incident previously occurred at Boston’s Logan Airport when a woman was stung.