Western Cape police have seized more than 5 000 units of abalone with an estimated street value of R2.4-million in Milnerton, Cape Town
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, says the crime intelligence-driven investigation led detectives to a warehouse in the area on Friday.
When police arrived at the premises, they noticed a motor vehicle with two Chinese occupants, and upon searching the car, they found two 50 kilogram bags of salt, which confirmed their suspicions.
Rwexana says upon entering the warehouse, they uncovered an illegal abalone processing facility and arrested the men, aged 31 and 34.
Numerous plastic containers, filled with shucked abalone, steel cooking pots, gas cylinders and burners, a scale, chest freezer and other items of equipment were seized. Three rooms on the upper level were equipped as drying rooms where dried abalone was also seized.
The suspects will appear in the Cape Town Magistrates' Court on Monday on charges under the Living Marine Resources Act.
