The Hawks have arrested three individuals for illegal abalone trafficking in Thornton, seizing over R2.5 million worth of the marine resource and shutting down an unlawful drying facility.
Image: Supplied / Hawks
The Hawks are closing in on protected resources after shutting down an abalone drying facility and arresting three suspects in Thornton this week.
The trio, aged between 30 and 48, was arrested on March 25 by the Hawks' Economic Protected Resources (EPR), in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), for illegal dealing in abalone.
Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi said they acted on a tip-off received about the facility operating in Thornton.
“Information was operationalised, and upon arrival at the premises, they encountered two suspects inside a Toyota bakkie that was loaded with containers consisting of abalone. Further information was followed up on, and the third suspect was arrested, while one managed to evade arrest. Upon counting, 3,443 units of wet abalone and 5,995 units of dried abalone were seized with a total value of over R2.5 million.”
The Hawks, in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, have dismantled an illegal abalone operation in Thornton.
Image: Supplied
The three are expected to appear in the Goodwood Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
This arrest follows another shutdown by the Hawks earlier this month, where 3,699 units were seized to the value of R1.2 million in Table View.
On March 10, the EPR, in collaboration with the DFFE, the Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), and Table View SAPS, arrested four suspects aged between 35 and 45.
Vukubi said when members arrived at the location at about 11.30am, they encountered the four suspects processing the abalone.
They have since appeared at the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court.
Hawks provincial head, Major General Makgato, commended the teams for the swift response and further encouraged the public to continue providing information to the SAPS and the Hawks.
chevon.booysen@inl.co.za