Port Elizabeth police in the Eastern Cape arrested three men on Tuesday night for the illegal possession of abalone worth R30 000.
Police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Alwin Labans, said members of the PE Flying Squad received information about abalone poaching activities at Noordhoek and conducted a stake-out with the assistance from the police’s K9 and Anti Poaching Units.
Laban's said shortly before 7 pm, the suspects were seen loading bags into a vehicle before speeding away. A chase ensued, the vehicle was pulled over and searched: “555 units of shelled and unshelled abalone was found on the back seat of the vehicle.”
Police confiscated a Ford Ikon 1.6i and two cellphones.
The abalone was taken by Marine and Coastal members and three suspects were detained at Humewood Police Station.
The suspects face charges of illegal possession of abalone and will appear in court soon.
– African News Agency (ANA)
