• John Hume, former owner of the world's largest rhino farm, arrested in a smuggling case.
• He and five others face charges tied to a $14 million trafficking scheme.
• The investigation uncovered fraudulent permits used to export rhino horns illegally.
• Rhino horns are highly valued in illegal markets, particularly in Asia.

South African police have arrested John Hume, the former owner of what was once the world’s largest rhino conservation farm, along with five other individuals, on charges of smuggling rhino horns worth an estimated $14 million. These arrests, stemming from a complex investigation that began in 2017, involve allegations of a coordinated trafficking ring targeting Southeast Asian markets. Hume, now 83, ran the "Platinum Rhino" farm, which housed around 2,000 rhinos, representing about 15% of the remaining wild population of southern white rhinos, until it was sold to the African Parks NGO in 2023, according to SCMP, BBC, CBS News, and India Times.

The suspects are charged with various offenses, including fraud, money laundering, and violations of biodiversity laws. The investigation highlighted allegations that Hume and his accomplices sought permits for approximately 964 horns to be sold domestically, while their actual intention was to export these to illegal markets in Southeast Asia. This practice contravenes international bans against the export of rhino horns, although local trading is permitted within South Africa, as reported by SCMP, BBC, CBS News, and India Times.

Officials from South Africa's Hawks police unit have emphasized the significance of these arrests in the fight against wildlife trafficking. Dion George, South Africa's Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, stated, "This investigation is a powerful demonstration of South Africa's resolve to protect its natural heritage." The illegal trade of rhino horns parallels the demand for ivory, and they command high prices in Asian markets, often used in traditional medicine, as highlighted by SCMP, BBC, CBS News, and India Times.