Police in Gqeberha are leaving no stone unturned as they clamp down on illegal abalone activity in the metro.
Police in Gqeberha are leaving no stone unturned as they clamp down on illegal abalone activity in the metro.
This week several intelligence driven operations were conducted which resulted in the arrests of suspects and the confiscation of abalone and equipment totaling millions of Rand, Colonel Priscilla Naidu, police spokesperson said.
On Wednesday, 10 May at about 08:00, members from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs followed up on information of a vehicle that was stationery at a retail shop in Standford Road in Extension 24, Bethelsdorp.
“As officials approached the vehicle, the driver and the passenger got off and started to run. They were apprehended. On searching the vehicle they found 10 plastic bags of abalone on the back seat of the car,” Naidu said.
A total of 936 units of abalone were confiscated. The VW Polo was also seized for further investigation.
“The estimated street value of the abalone is R187 200. The suspects were detained on charges of illegal possession and transportation of abalone.”
In another unrelated incident, ten suspects were arrested in a joint operation between DPCI and Public Order Policing at a house in Whiteleaf Avenue in Algoa Park.
“At about 06:45 on Thursday, 11 May police swooped in at the house and found suspects busy offloading bags of abalone. A total of 1 629 units, together with a Ford Focus vehicle were confiscated. The estimated value of the abalone is R500 000. The suspects were detained on charges of illegal possession of abalone.”
The illegal trade was dealt a further blow when three suspects, aged between 30-50 years old (two men and a woman) were arrested at a processing facility in Kruisrivier in Kariega on Thursday.
“The arrests were executed after police operationalised information received of the facility. A total of 4 274 units of abalone as well as equipment totaling over R1,2 million were seized.”
Abalone worth over R20 million was found on a smallholding in Rocklands.
Photo: Supplied
Law enforcement also busted another abalone processing establishment on Thursday during a well-planned joint operation executed by Border Policing, with the assistance of Border Security Crime Intelligence, Gqeberha K9, Anti-Gang Unit, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs as well as NMB Metro Police. The bust took place at a smallholding in Rocklands.
“A total of 26 169 units of abalone (wet and dried), gas tanks, burners, industrial fans, chemicals as well as a generator were confiscated. The estimated street value of the abalone is over R20 million,” Naidu said.
All the arrested suspects will be appearing in their respective Magistrate’s Courts soon.
Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene, commended the assiduous work of the police, including members from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs in ensuring that marine life is protected from greedy and ambitious poachers.
“It is clear that illegal abalone trade is rife and thriving in Nelson Mandela Bay and Kouga regions of the Eastern Cape. We will continue in our efforts to dismantle these organised syndicates whose activities also impact on serious and violent crimes. The exceptional work done by our teams sends a clear message to criminals that we are not sleeping and that we will find and uncover your illegal activities,” added Mene.