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Public awareness and tip-offs lead to the confiscation of more than 10 000 units of abalone and the arrest of four men, one a Chinese national, in four different operations across Cape Town in February 2012.
In a joint-operation by several officials of the Monitoring, Compliance and Surveillance-unit (MCS) of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), the Hawks and the Environmental Crime Investigation Unit of SANParks a raid on a house in Vredelust, Bellville, that was used as a drying processing facility, lead to the arrest of a Chinese national and the confiscation of 5 736 dried abalone (396.7kg), as well as various drying processing equipment.
In another raid on a house in Portlands, Mitchell’s Plain, following information from the public about abalone that was dropped off at this house, 2 522 units of abalone (302.3kg) were confiscated and one suspect was apprehended while another one ran away.
In the first incident, 1 574 units of abalone (248kg) were confiscated and in the second, 285 units of shucked abalone and 30 units of unshucked abalone were confiscated. |
