During a multidisciplinary operation between the SAPS, Provincial traffic and metro police, a 45-year-old man’s luck ran out when he was arrested at a roadblock in Standford Road this morning, 17 September 2021, with a substantial amount of abalone in the boot of his car.

It is alleged that at about 09:50, police were conducting a road block near the old terminus in Windvogel when a silver VW Golf GTI was pulled over at the vehicle check point.  The vehicle and boot were searched and police found four black bags and a blue plastic bag in the boot. On questioning the nervous driver, he indicated that the bags contained frozen meat.  Upon inspecting the bags, a total of 349 units of abalone weighing 70kg was discovered. The estimated value of the molluscs is R251 280.

He was arrested on a charge of illegal possession of abalone. He is expected to appear in the Gelvandale magistrate court on Monday, 20 September 2021.

In another unrelated incident, two members from the Gqeberha K9 unit confiscated abalone worth R80 000 yesterday afternoon, 16 September 2021.  It is alleged that at about 14:30, the members were training a K9 along the coast in Marine Drive when they spotted an unknown person sporting diving equipment exiting the water. When the person spotted the members, he went back into the water and swam away. With the assistance of a private poaching company, a bag was retrieved from the water. A total of 126 units of abalone was confiscated.

Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brig Thandiswa Kupiso re-iterated that the illegal exploitation of these animals must be stopped. “Abalone poaching is rampant along our coastline and as law enforcement we will endeavour to minimise the threats and clamp down on lucrative syndicates,” warned Brig Kupiso.

Source: South African Police Service