Supplied
Two suspects are expected to appear in the PE Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after being found in possession of 512 units of abalone which had been stashed in five bags in the boot of their car.
Colonel Priscilla Naidu says the abalone is valued at around R300 000.
She says the two men, aged 21 and 34, were arrested early on Wednesday in a joint operation involving a private anti-poaching unit and members of the K9 Dog Unit.
The K9 unit had followed up on information late on Tuesday night of a suspicious vehicle on Marine Drive but nothing untoward was found in the car when they stopped and searched it.
Colonel Naidu says that at around 5.30 am on Wednesday, the K9 members and the anti-poaching unit spotted the same vehicle driving down Victoria Drive towards Schoenmakerskop.
The Toyota Corolla was again stopped and searched and the abalone was found in the boot.
The two suspects were immediately arrested and detained for contravention of the Marine Living Resource Act, the illegal possession of abalone, and transportation of abalone without a permit.
