The endeavours of SAPS to tackle the lucrative illegal abalone trade in the Western Cape and to break the back of the smuggling syndicates have paid off with two significant successes last night. At about 19:00 information was operationalized and led various police units to a farm on the Bottelary Road, Brackenfell where two suspects aged 43 and 46 were arrested for operating an illegal abalone processing facility. The seizure at the crime scene comprised 6878 units of fresh abalone, 24 922 units of dry abalone and equipment used for the processing of abalone.
Not far from there in Milnerton at around 19:30 police members reacted to information and apprehended a cold storage truck in Montagu Gardens which was searched. This search led to the discovery of 213 bags of frozen abalone with an approximate weight of five ton. Four suspects, a 23 year old female and three males aged 24, 26 and 37 were arrested for the illegal possession of abalone. The truck was also confiscated.
The exact value of the abalone confiscated during the two operations is yet to be determined, however it is estimated at several million rand and deemed a significant blow to the illegal abalone trade in this province. We will not allow criminals to strip the marine resources of the Western Cape, and we will continue with our intelligence driven operations to fight the scourge.
Once charged, the suspects are due to make a court appearance in Kuilsrivier and Cape Town respectively.
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