South African authorities arrest two men for suspected parrot egg smuggling

Authorities at OR Tambo International Airport have arrested two men in connection with separate suspected wildlife trafficking operations involving endangered parrot eggs.

In the most recent incident on August 20, 2026, a 50-year-old Thai national was apprehended while allegedly attempting to export 50 bird eggs concealed in a homemade incubator bag carried as hand luggage. Preliminary investigations suggest the eggs belong to species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Several of the rescued eggs have already hatched, with the chicks receiving veterinary care.

This arrest follows a similar incident on July 16, 2026, where a 23-year-old Thai national was intercepted at the same airport with 418 parrot eggs. The operations were conducted through a joint effort involving the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s Environmental Management Inspectorate, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Crime Intelligence, and SAPS Border Police.

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment David Maynier noted that these incidents highlight the increasing sophistication of transnational wildlife trafficking networks. If convicted, the suspect in the recent arrest could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to R10 million.