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Police seized 633 units of abalone and arrested 11 suspected poachers during an operation in Jeffreys Bay.
Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli said the operation was carried out between Friday and Saturday between Pellsrus and Paradise Beach.
He said K9 unit members from Humansdorp and Gqeberha, Ngqurha Border Policing, Kouga Municipality, and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries have intensified their efforts to curb poaching of maritime resources.
“The use of technology such as surveillance cameras, drones, and ski boats by the team in observing a stretch of about 10 kilometres resulted in the arrests and confiscation. The value of the abalone seized is around R71 500.00,” he said.
Nkholi said the eleven men, aged between 25 and 42, are due to appear in the Humansdorp Magistrate’s court on Monday.
Meanwhile, he said in a separate incident last Thursday, police dog, Udze managed to sniff out bags full of abalone valued R687 375.00 hidden in dense bushes near Fish River in Seafield.
“Police also recovered wetsuits and equipment valued at R60 000.00. An inquiry docket was opened for further investigation,” he said.
