Abalone valued at more than a quarter of a million rand was seized by members of the SAPS after a high speed chase through Cape Town earlier this week.
At around 2am on Wednesday morning, law enforcement officers based in the CBD were alerted to a vehicle that has been linked to poaching, leaving the Atlantic Seaboard.
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Members located the vehicle and attempted to question the two occupants who refused to stop.
A high speed chase ensued. Police then requested backup and the SAPS Flying Squad joined the chase.
The vehicle was eventually brought to a stop in the Bellville CBD and both suspects were arrested.
In the vehicle a total of 510 fresh, unshucked abalone, with a street value of R255 000. were discovered and handed over to members of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Also Read: Three suspects arrested for being in possession of abalone worth R700 000
“The poaching of our marine resources is closely linked to gangs within the Western Cape and adds to the increase of organized crime,” said City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member, JP Smith. “While political parties discredit and seek to prevent law enforcement gathering and using ‘intelligence’ to fight crime, it was the observant early morning officers acting on such intelligent information that eventually resulted in the combined efforts of SAPS to arrest the diving duo.”
Smith added that the city will now provide additional investigative resources to the SAPS Investigating Officer handling the case docket, to ensure the case is properly investigated and for additional criminal links to be identified, with those then implicated to be brought to trial.
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Photo: Facebook/jp4safety