Six people have been charged in South Africa in connection to an international rhino horn​ trafficking network after a seven-year investigation, officials said.

LONDON -- Six suspects accused of orchestrating one of South Africa's largest rhino horn trafficking operations appeared in court Tuesday following a 7-year investigation that uncovered a scheme involving 964 rhino horns destined for illegal markets in Southeast Asia, authorities said.

South African prosecutors have accused a well-known rhino breeder of operating a global rhino horn smuggling network alongside five other people