Two Vietnamese men believed to be part of a large rhino poaching syndicate were arrested and approximately 41kg of rhino horns was recovered at O R Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), Johannesburg, on Friday night.
The arrest was made by the South African Police Service's (SAPS’) National Crime Intelligence Division and the South African Revenue Service's Customs and Excise. 
According to SAPS, this is the largest haul of rhino horns seized in one operation in South Africa and it is believed that these horns were removed from rhinos in South Africa. 
The two Vietnamese men are in police custody and were expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrates' Court on Monday, November 3. However, SAPS has confirmed that the court date has been postponed to November 5 due to the unavailability of an interpreter.
The two men were booked on a Qatar flight departing for Hanoi, Vietnam, from Maputo. The aircraft made a one-hour scheduled stop at ORTIA during which the passengers were expected to remain inside the aircraft.  However, all the passengers were requested to exit the aircraft and proceed to the International Departures area where the bags containing rhino horns were discovered and the two men arrested.
The latest updated rhino statistics (September 11, 2014) by the Department of Environmental Affairs showed that a total of 769 rhinos have been poached this year and a total of 165 arrests have been made. In 2013 1004 rhino were poached and 232 poaching arrests were made. “The Kruger National Park continues to bear the brunt of rhino poaching in South Africa, having lost 489 rhinos so far this year,” DEA reported.