Africa Wild

R1.2m worth of abalone and equipment seized in Eastern Cape
11 December 2023 - 10:08
Shonisani Tshikalange Reporter


Abalone and equipment worth R1.2m were seized while being offloaded in the Eastern Cape at the weekend.

The 26 abalone bags, a rubber duck boat and diving equipment were confiscated by the economic protected resources (EPR) team of the Hawks' serious organised crime investigation unit in Gqeberha, with Dark Water Ops, the department of forestry, fisheries & the environment, and SAPS' port of entry unit members on Saturday.

Police spokesperson Capt Yolisa Mgolodela said at about 4am on Saturday the EPR members received information indicating where a rubber duck was about to offload abalone onto a vehicle.

“The members are reported to have arrived and found the rubber duck stuck on the sand. People were offloading the abalone but fled on seeing the police,” Mgolodela said.

The members confiscated 26 bags of abalone containing 5,700 units and weighing about 1,000kg, as well as diving equipment.

She said police are on the lookout for the perpetrators and their arrest is imminent.

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Very well, but they cannot put the abalones back into the sea

A Chinese national has been slapped with a R250,000 fine for illegal possession of abalone and for operating a fish processing establishment without a permit.

Qing Yun Jiang, 58, was also handed a two-year sentence behind bars.

He was arrested by sea border police in December 2022. The Wynberg magistrate's court sentenced him on Friday.

Hawks’ spokesperson, Lt-Col Siyabulela Vukubi said police found abalone worth about R3m when they searched premises in Mowbray, Cape Town. He said the matter was referred to the Hawks' economic protected resources unit for investigation.

“It was established that the premises were used as an illegal fish processing facility. During the search, 1,114 units of wet abalone to the value of R227,550 and 3,205 units of dried abalone to the value of R2,572,731 were seized,” said Vukubi.

Qing was arrested with Malawians Aaron Mtete, 30, and Komdwani Mtoghera, 31. Mtete and Mtoghera were convicted of illegal possession of abalone, illegally operating a fish processing establishment and contravention of the Immigrating Act in December 2023.

He was arrested by sea border police in December 2022. The Wynberg magistrate's court sentenced him on Friday.

Hawks’ spokesperson, Lt-Col Siyabulela Vukubi said police found abalone worth about R3m when they searched premises in Mowbray, Cape Town. He said the matter was referred to the Hawks' economic protected resources unit for investigation.

“It was established that the premises were used as an illegal fish processing facility. During the search, 1,114 units of wet abalone to the value of R227,550 and 3,205 units of dried abalone to the value of R2,572,731 were seized,” said Vukubi.

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I wonder for how long it has been going on

Huge abalone bust at storage facility in Cape Town

By Kim Swartz - 16 September 2024 - 16:48




Abalone and equipment worth an estimated R10m were confiscated by police.

Three foreigners will appear in court on Tuesday after being arrested in what police described as one of the biggest abalone busts in recent years in the Western Cape.
Police raided a property on Sunday and discovered abalone and equipment worth an estimated R10.3m at Rylands in Cape Town.

A tactical response team (TRT) arrested a 53-year-old Chinese national and two Zimbabweans aged 28 and 31.“Members of the TRT acted on information about an abalone storage facility which led them to an address in the industrial area of Rylands, near Philippi,” said police spokesperson Lt-Col Malcolm Pojie.

“Upon arrival, members noticed how a suspect who stood at the entrance gate to the premises attempted to run away.”
Police arrested the man and discovered a large storage building converted into an abalone processing facility. Two men were processing a substantial quantity of abalone inside: 11,485 wet and 15,200 dry abalone. The suspects face charges of illegal possession of abalone.

During another TRT operation 2,505 units of abalone were found abandoned in a vehicle at Nyanga.

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2024 ... cape-town/

but as always, the abalones are gone

Suspects caught with R7m worth of abalone destined for Gauteng

By Kim Swartz - 14 November 2024 - 12:12
Bags of abalone were also found in a Volkswagen Caddy.



Image: SAPS

Two suspects will appear in the Wellington magistrate’s court on Friday after being caught with more than 1,000kg of abalone destined for Gauteng.

Police spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg said the intelligence-driven operation was conducted by members of the Kuilsrivier stock theft and endangered species unit in conjunction with the department of forestry, fisheries and the environment's investigation unit.

“The members received information of a truck loaded with abalone destined for Gauteng. The members acted on the information and found the identified truck in the Wellington industrial area,” said Twigg.

“The truck was searched and abalone weighing 567.40kg concealed in black bags was found.”

Police were then led to a Volkswagen Caddy in which 463.89kg of abalone had been stashed.

The combined value of the haul is an estimated R7m.

A 38-year-old Zimbabwean and 34-year-old Malawian were arrested on Wednesday.

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......destined for Gauteng

To be sold to consumers or.....

Normally smuggled out!

Most likely