Ten arrested in abalone crackdown

POLICE cracked down on abalone poachers at the weekend, arresting 10 people in four different incidents and confiscating large amounts of abalone amounting to millions of rand.

Police spokesperson André Traut said police were closing the net on abalone poachers, after nabbing two alleged poachers in Parow yesterday afternoon, when members of Operation Combat followed up on claims that the premises were a drying plant.

Traut added that two men aged in their twenties were arrested for abalone with an estimated value of R3.5 million.

The suspects are due to make a court appearance in Bellville once they have been charged.

The breakthrough came after two people were arrested in Century City on Friday. A 34-year-old man from Hout Bay was arrested in Conference Lane after his BMW was searched.

Traut said: “Bags filled with abalone were found in the boot… Not far from there, a parked Audi was searched and more bags of abalone were found.”

A second suspect, a 27-year-old man from the Northern Cape, was also arrested.

Traut said the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff) is still establishing the exact quantity and value.

In another case, three suspects aged between 29 and 32 were arrested in Fish Hoek on Friday, after 101 units of abalone were found in their vehicle. Once charged, the suspects are expected to appear in the Cape Town and Simon’s Town courts.

In Bothasig, three suspects were arrested in possession of a large amount of abalone on Thursday. The suspects are to appear in court in Goodwood.