The endeavors of SAPS to tackle the lucrative illegal abalone trade in the Western Cape and to break the back of the smuggling syndicates have paid off with two suspects arrested early on Monday morning.
A member attached to Riviersonderend SAPS was on patrol when he noticed a suspicious vehicle, a white I10 Hyundai on the N2 with two male occupants. He followed it and stopped the vehicle in town at Padloper. After the vehicle was stopped, the member approached it, introduced himself, and saw black bags at the back of the vehicle.
He searched the vehicle and found nine black bags containing unshelled abalone. The value of the 900 units of the abalone is approximately R700 000.00, the illegal abalone and vehicle were seized and handed in as an exhibit.
Two suspects aged 27 and 54 were arrested for possession of abalone, and they are due to appear in the Caledon Periodical Court on 2021-04-28 on the mentioned charges. The abalone was later handed over to DAFF.
Protecting marine resources remains at the core of the SAPS mandate.