The South African Police Service, along with Western Cape Traffic officials, have made headway in curbing the illegal trade of abalone in the province. In the past week, authorities have seen abalone with over R4,5 million in separate operations.
On Tuesday, police arrested two abalone peddlers on the N1 near Worcester in two separate incidents before the highly valued shellfish could reach its intended destination.
In the first incident, officers arrested a 39-year-old male for possession of abalone without a permit during an integrated operation. Authorities followed up on information received about a truck transporting abalone from Cape Town on the N1 national road.
Officers quickly set up a Vehicle Checkpoint on the N1 Road near Meirings Park, Worcester, when the identified truck was spotted and pulled over by Traffic, followed by a search of the truck and its cargo.
“Abalone was found inside the cabin of the truck by K9 Layla -. Further searches were conducted by Layla resulted in more bags being discovered in a compartment attached to the outside of the truck.”
A total amount of 4582 dried abalone with an estimated street value of R2 million was confiscated.
On the same day, information was received of another truck, also transporting abalone from Cape Town. Worcester police responded to the information and pulled over the truck on the N-1.
The members searched the truck and discovered 960 dried abalone to the estimated value of R468 105,00 inside the truck’s cabin. This led to the arrest of a 41-year-old man for possession of abalone.
In an unrelated bust on Wednesday morning, two traffic inspectors from the Western Cape Mobility Department participated in the arrest of an alleged abalone poacher on the R316 near Caledon.
According to the department, the inspectors were patrolling the road when they saw a suspicious grey Mercedes-Benz driving at a high speed. The inspectors immediately pulled the vehicle over, at which point the suspect jumped out and fled on foot.
One of the inspectors ran after the suspect, while the other followed them in the official vehicle. After a footrace, the running inspector caught up with the suspect and arrested him.
When the car was searched, the traffic inspectors found abalone to the value of R750 000 on the backseat.
“Our traffic and law enforcement units can support the conservation of abalone by making it as difficult as possible for it to be transported on our roads. I thank the two inspectors and our traffic and law enforcement units for their dedicated efforts to combat crime,” Western Cape Minister of Mobility, Isaac Sileku
Back in the City, SAPS officers conducted a search at a premises in Phillipi on Thursday and found abalone worth R1.4 million.
A crime intelligence-driven operation by the Maitland Flying Squad in the Philippi area led to the arrest of four suspects aged between 19 and 33.
A premises in Schaap Road, Schaapkraal, was searched and 3281 units of dry abalone and 1359 units of wet abalone were confiscated. Officers also seized equipment that was used to dry the abalone, on the premises. Three vehicles were also handed in as part of the operation.
“The suspects were detained at Philippi SAPS, and are due to appear in the Athlone Magistrates court, once they are charged.”
READ MORE: Police investigations into yet another fatal Nyanga mass shooting
