In what is believed to be one of the largest abalone busts in recent years in the Western Cape, a tip-off led to the discovery of abalone valued at over R10 million in a storage facility in Rylands, near Philippi.
Police spokesperson Malcolm Pojie said that a 53-year-old Chinese national and two Zimbabweans, aged 28 and 31, were arrested.
He added that the two younger men were discovered inside the facility, actively processing a large quantity of wet and dry abalone.
“On Sunday, at about 5pm, members of the Provincial Tactical Response Team (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 noticed 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,” he said.
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.
Another TRT platoon deployed in Nyanga seized a VW Caddy and 2505 units of abalone found abandoned as the suspect fled the scene and is yet to be arrested, said Pojie.
“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 crimes.”
Meanwhile, Boniface Mwachande, 30, Winnie Mazengela, 19, and Andries Nel, 44, appeared before the Kariega Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape on Monday on allegations of operating a fish processing establishment without a permit. They were arrested by the Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) Economic Protected Resources (EPR) unit of the Hawks, in collaboration with the Dark Water Operations team and the Kariega Local Criminal Record Centre members, on Friday.
“The team followed information about the abalone operation of a syndicate at Scheepers Heights, Kariega.
Upon arrival at the said house, 5896 units of dried abalone and fish processing equipment were seized. The total cash value of the abalone with equipment is worth more than R2 million,” said Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Yolisa Mgolodela.
The matter was postponed to September 27 for a formal bail application.
Cape Times