South African prosecutors have charged former rhino breeder John Hume and five associates with running a multimillion-dollar horn-smuggling network uncovered by a seven-year investigation. The suspects, aged between 49 and 84, surrendered to the Hawks policing unit on 19 August and appeared the same day in Pretoria Magistrates’ Court. Hume, 83, was released on 100,000 rand (about US$5,600) bail; smaller amounts were set for his co-accused. Investigators allege the group obtained government permits under false pretences to buy and sell rhino horn domestically, then diverted 964 horns—valued at roughly $14.1 million—to illegal markets in Southeast Asia between 2017 and 2024. The six face 55 counts that include racketeering, fraud, theft, money laundering and violations of biodiversity law; additional charges are under consideration. International commercial trade in rhino horn has been banned since 1977, although limited domestic sales are legal in South Africa. Hume once owned the 19,270-acre Platinum Rhino ranch, where he bred about 2,000 white rhinos—around 15 percent of the species’ remaining global population—before selling the operation to conservation NGO African Parks in 2023. Environment Minister Dion George called the arrests “a powerful demonstration of South Africa’s resolve to protect its natural heritage” as the country battles poaching that claimed 420 rhinos last year. The defendants are due back in court on 9 December.