Undercover Operation in Maputo Uncovers Fake Rhino Horn Trafficking Attempt

In late March 2025, Mozambican authorities, in collaboration with law enforcement counterparts in Zimbabwe, uncovered a suspected attempt to sell what was believed to be black rhino horn in Maputo. The operation involved one presumed Zimbabwean national and two Mozambican citizens, who were reportedly seeking to sell the wildlife product at a high price within the city.

The investigation was triggered by a tip-off originating from Zimbabwe, indicating that the individuals were attempting to conduct the illegal transaction in Maputo. Authorities immediately initiated contact with the suspects through undercover channels, arranging a first meeting on the same day at the Afrin Hotel in central Maputo.

Acting on the intelligence, a joint undercover operation was launched, involving officers from the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) and the Operational Intelligence Department of Maputo. The authorities posed as potential buyers, first meeting the suspects at the Afrin Hotel and then arranging a follow-up meeting at the SPAR Missão Roque supermarket — the proposed location for the transaction.

At the site, the suspects arrived in a group of three. One individual approached the area to scout the surroundings and insisted on relocating the meeting to a more remote location. The undercover team declined, demanding that the exchange occur at the agreed spot or not at all.

A second suspect then arrived carrying a plastic bag and approached the vehicle of the undercover agents. Inside the bag were two objects resembling rhino horns — one full horn and one smaller fragment — with a combined weight of approximately 6.8 kilograms. Based on appearance and texture, the items were believed to be rhino horn.

Upon confirming the presence of the suspected wildlife trophies, the undercover agents revealed their true identities and signaled SERNIC, which was on standby at the location. Two individuals were arrested at the scene while the third suspect managed to flee on foot.

The two detainees were taken into custody and transferred to the 8th Police Station. The following morning, SERNIC formally requested a technical forensic analysis of the seized items. The results revealed that the items were, in fact, fake rhino horns.

Despite the falsification, the case remains of serious concern. The City Prosecutor of Maputo was informed of the incident and highlighted that the third suspect — currently at large — is believed to have links to high-profile kidnapping cases and organised criminal networks. The prosecutor stressed the urgency of the forensic report, noting that without confirmation of authenticity, the two detained individuals could not be held on wildlife trafficking charges. However, she also emphasized that the suspects would still be presented to a criminal instruction judge due to their involvement in activities connected to the illegal wildlife trade, even if the transaction involved replicas.