Police units confiscate shucked abalone worth R4m

SHUCKED abalone worth almost R4 million has been confiscated by the police since last Monday.

A 31-year-old man is expected to appear in the Strand Magistrate’s Court today for allegedly transporting and possessing abalone worth R1.1million, said police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana.

She explained that the Cape Town K-9 police unit was patrolling in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village yesterday morning when it followed an Isuzu bakkie going towards the CBD.

She said police pulled the vehicle off the road at Firlands, Gordon’s Bay, and confiscated 6 824 units of shucked abalone packed in bags. The suspect was arrested.

Last Tuesday, members of the Khayelitsha detective branch responded to information of a vehicle allegedly transporting abalone from Gansbaai to Cape Town. At about 7am, a maroon Isuzu bakkie was pulled over on the N2 near Spine and Mew Way.

Numerous plastic bags of shucked abalone were found and a 30-year-old man was arrested. Officials from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries counted 3 846 abalone, worth R824 000.

In another police/K-9 operation last Monday, shortly after 8.30am, a white Volkswagen panel van was pulled over on the corners of Bonga and Japhta Masemola roads. A 27year-old man and a 31-year-old woman were arrested.

According to officials, the 8 396 units of abalone were worth R2m. – Staff Writer