A 27-year-old man was arrested on Monday, October 27 for operating an illegal processing abalone facility in Cape Town. The suspect was arrested in a joint effort by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team, Crime Intelligence and officials from the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environmental (DFFE).
According to the Hawks’ spokesperson Zinzi Hani, a multi-disciplinary team reacted on information about a house that was being used as a fully-fledged abalone processing laboratory.
“A search warrant was executed that led the team to the premises in Melkbosstrand where they observed and uncovered the said facility. Over 5206 units (375.44 kg) of dried abalone with a street value of more than R2.7 million was seized,” Hani said
Hani indicated further that the suspect will now appear in the Atlantis Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
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Earlier this month nine foreign nationals were also arrested for smuggling abalone with an estimated value of more than R20.2 million. The suspects were arrested in two different specialized operations by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team together with the DFFE, Crime Intelligence and officers from the SAPS K9 Overberg Cluster.
Two Chinese nationals and two Zimbabwean nationals aged between 24 to 27 were part of those detained for operating an illegal abalone processing facility in Welgemoed, Bellville. Dried abalone units with an approximate value of R6.5 million as well as abalone processing equipment were seized in the process.
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Picture: Cape {town} Etc gallery
