PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Thanks to cooperation between various crime fighters in and around Plettenberg Bay abalone worth more than R700 000 was confiscated and three suspects were arrested on Wednesday evening.
Southern Cape police spokesman Sgt Chris Spies said at about 21:00 on 5 January, local police sea border unit members, the rural flying squad, SANParks, Bitou law enforcement officials, and local security officers acted on a tip-off about alleged illicit activities in the Crags near Plettenberg Bay.
“This effort led to the discovery of three men with a large quantity of abalone in their possession, " said Spies.
Two of them fled on foot, but the team caught them. "The police arrested the suspects and confiscated 2 973 units of abalone as well as various diving equipment,” Spies said.
The three suspects, aged 25, 32 and 36, will remain in police custody and are expected to appear in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate's Court on Friday 7 January. They are facing charges of illegal possession of abalone.
The abalone was handed over to inspectors at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for safekeeping and disposal.
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieut-Gen Thembisile Patekile, lauded the team, saying the endeavour was part of their integrated approach during Safer Festive Season operations.
"The protection of our living marine resources is of utmost importance in this province, especially to the economy. These interventions will continue as part of our concerted efforts to bring the unlawful harvesting and trafficking of our marine resources along the coast to a halt,” Patekile said.
'We bring you the latest Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route news'
