Police seize abalone worth more than R10.3 million in Philippi, three arrested

16 September 2024 | SANews

Police in the Western Cape are pulling the net tighter and tighter to eradicate the illegal distribution and depletion of living marine resources which threatens the economy of the country and contributes to the commission of serious crime.

Continued efforts by members attached to the Provincial Tactical Response Team (TRT) ensured the apprehension of three suspects, a 53-year-old Chinese national and two Zimbabwean nationals aged, 28 and 31 years old, in what is believed to be one of the biggest abalone busts in this province in recent years.

On Sunday, 15 September 2024 at about 17:00, members of the TRT acted on information about an abalone storage facility which led them to an address situated in the industrial area of Rylands near Philippi.

Upon arrival at the address, members noticed how a suspect who stood at the entrance gate to the premises, attempted to run away when he notices the members approaching.

The members in hot pursuit, managed to apprehend the suspect, a Chinese national and discovered a massive storage building which was converted into an abalone process facility. The members also apprehended two Zimbabwean nationals who were found inside the facility, busy processing a substantial quantity of wet and dry abalone.

Further inspection of the premises led to the discovery and confiscation of 11 485 wet and 15 200 dry abalone as well as equipment with a total estimated value of R10.3 million.

The three suspects are scheduled to appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ court on Tuesday, 17 September 2024 for the illegal possession of abalone.

Simultaneously, another TRT platoon deployed in Nyanga seized a VW Caddy and 2505 units of abalone which were found abandoned as the suspect fled the scene and is yet to be arrested.

Provincial police management lauded the members for their vigilance and commitment to eradicate the depletion of marine living resources.