Law Enforcement Marine and Environmental Unit officers have arrested several suspects in separate operations across Cape Town for the illegal possession of West Coast rock lobster tails.
Officers were conducting patrols in the Parow industrial area yesterday when they noticed a suspicious vehicle. The driver appeared visibly uncomfortable, prompting officers to stop and search the bakkie. The City’s Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason says upon further investigation, 1000 West Coast rock lobster tails were uncovered.
“The officers asked the driver to open the back of the bakkie and found a bucket filled with West Coast rock lobster tails. The driver, a 41-year-old, and his passenger, a 39-year-old, both from Ravensmead, were arrested and charged at Ravensmead SAPS for possession of 1000 West Coast Rock lobster tails without a permit and not kept in a whole state as per the Marine Living Resources Act. The vehicle was also impounded along with a firearm and 16 rounds of ammunition.”
Dyason says during a separate incident on the same day, Marine and Environmental Unit members, supported by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), conducted surveillance at a house in Hanover Park where lobster tails were allegedly being sold.
“The officers then saw positive movement and decided to conduct an inspection. When entering the premises, a male confronted them, and he was asked what was being sold on the premises. He replied, only fish. The officers then asked permission to search the fridges and found bags containing West Coast rock lobster tails.”
A 48-year-old man was arrested.
In another operation on Saturday, officers conducted patrols in the Bishop Lavis area and followed up on intelligence about fish being sold at a residence in the area.
“At the property, officers requested invoices for the fish being sold, which the owner could not produce,” said Dyason.
Officers then discovered two bags containing West Coast rock lobster tails. The 33-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with possession of 91 lobster tails without a permit and for failing to keep them in a whole state, in contravention of the Marine Living Resources Act.
