A swift response to information about abalone harvesting ensured that a man was arrested after abalone with an estimated value of R13 000 was found in his possession at Mossel Bay.
On Sunday, 03 July 2025 at about 20:00 Da Gamaskop police members in Mossel Bay received a hint from the public. The members operationalised the information and proceeded to Bakke Road, Mossel Bay where they spotted two men. They approached the pair and a scuffle erupted leading to a bag with abalone falling from a back pack and one of the men fleeing. A search of the remaining suspect resulted in the discovery of 46 units of abalone. The vigilant members confiscated the find and arrested the 35-year-old man.
The suspect remains in police custody and will appear in court once charged. He is facing charges of unlawful possession of abalone, resisting arrest and assault common.
His accomplice is yet to be arrested.
Western Cape police management commended the members for their vigilance which led to the confiscations and arrest. These interventions will go a long way to bring unlawful harvesting of the valuable living marine resources along the coast to a halt.
