Traffic cops stop vehicle in bus lane, discover 2 888 pieces of abalone

AN ALLEGED smuggler has been caught with 2 888 pieces of abalone, while R50 000 worth of drugs has been found abandoned in various arrests and confiscations this week.

Cape Town Traffic Services made the arrest today just after 7.15am when they noticed a suspicious vehicle travelling in the bus lane along the N2.

Once the vehicle was stopped and searched, traffic officials found 29 bags of fresh abalone and arrested a 47-year-old suspect while another succeeded in fleeing.

Kevin Jacobs of the City’s Traffic Services said: “Cape Town Traffic Services conducted traffic enforcement operations on the N2 bus lane this morning.

“At 07h15, a Datsun sedan was stopped on the N2 inbound at Jakes Gerwel. The vehicle was stopped for driving in the bus lane. Two suspects, who immediately fled the scene on foot, abandoning their vehicle, were pursued by traffic officers.

“Upon further investigation, traffic officers found 29 bags of abalone containing 2 888 pieces of fresh abalone in the vehicle.

“A 47-year-old suspect was arrested for the unlawful possession and transportation of abalone. The search for the second suspect continues. The suspect was detained at Manenberg SAPS.”

Metro Police officers said they confiscated large amounts of drugs, including recovering two hijacked vehicles.

In Springbok Street in Kewtown, 36 packets of tik (methamphetamine)were found in the possession of a suspect.

Another suspect had been in possession of 107 units of unga (heroin) and was arrested.

The Metro Police’s Ruth Solomons said they hit the jackpot in Woodstock at an informal settlement after R50 000 worth of drugs were found abandoned on a rubble heap.

Solomons said: “While officers swept the area, K9 Savage positively identified the presence of drugs between the rubble, and his handler discovered a plastic bag containing various drugs.

“Officers seized 282 whole mandrax tablets, 395 unga units, 36 bankies of dagga, 47 small, 28 medium and one large bankies of tik, seven bankies of unga with a cash amount of R1 886.30.

“The value of the drugs is estimated at R50 000. The drugs and money were booked in at Woodstock SAPS as abandoned.”

In a separate incident, an officer who had been travelling to work had been stopped by a resident who informed him he had witnessed a hijacking on the corner of New Eisleben and Sheffield Road, Philippi.

Solomons said the information was followed up on and the vehicle had been recovered while the suspects fled the scene.

“The officer followed up on the information and was guided by the witness on where the vehicle had been seen,” she said.

“With assistance from other Metro Police officers, the panel van was recovered in Nomyayi Street, Brown’s Farm.

“The suspects ran away when they saw the officers.

“The owner was informed, and the vehicle booked in with SAPS.”

A second hijacked vehicle, a white VW Polo, had been recovered in Driftsands thanks to information from a tracking company on Wednesday night.