Two Vietnamese nationals in South Africa have been charged with the illegal possession of 41kg (90lbs) of rhino horn, police have told the BBC. Officials say it is the largest amount of black market rhino horn to be seized in South Africa. The men, believed to be linked to an international poaching ring, had been under surveillance before their arrest at a Johannesburg airport, police say. Nearly 900 rhino have been killed in South Africa since January. Rhino horn can sell for up to $65,000 (£47,500) per kg - which is nearly double the price of gold - with China and Vietnam being the largest markets. Police say the illegal haul was found by a dog that specialises in sniffing out rhino horn at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Sunday. 'National crisis' Paul Ramaloko, spokesperson for South Africa's organised crime fighting unit, told the BBC it was equivalent of 20 rhino horns with an estimated value of $358,000. Some South Africans have staged protests calling for more action against poaching. "Rhino poaching is regarded as a national crisis - for this reason those found guilty of the crime are dealt with harshly," he said. It is believed that the horns were most likely to have been removed from animals in South Africa's Kruger National Park, but tests need to be done to determine their origin, officials say.

South Africa troops tackle rhino poachers

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe said four military companies would be sent to the borders with Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Lesotho. Syndicates export the horns from Africa to parts of Asia and the Middle East. In 2011, a record 450 rhinos were killed by poachers in South Africa, the Department of Environment Affairs says. Mr Radebe said about 600 soldiers would join the fight against rhino poaching. "The deployment includes army engineers who are conducting repairs and maintenance on the Zimbabwe-Mozambique border fence, which is approximately 140 kilometres (85 miles)," Mr Radebe said. Last year troops were deployed along the Mozambican border, many of them inside the world-famous Kruger National Park where more than 200 rhinos were killed last year.