Police have discovered a large quantity of abalone in Milnerton this morning after a tip-off from neighbours.
According to a report from provincial police, the property in Derby Close was searched this morning after neighbours alerted police about a stench coming from the house.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk says nobody was at home and the landlord was contacted to unlock the premises.
“Upon unlocking the premises, officers entered the residence and an illegal abalone processing facility containing various items of equipment and abalone was uncovered. A large steel pot, still filled with fluid from cooking the abalone, a scale, a fridge [and] various plastic containers filled with abalone were found in the TV room.”
Van Wyk says the bath in the main bathroom was filled with shucked abalone. In addition, one bedroom– the drying room– had numerous shelves, plastic containers and a gas burner. In the main bedroom, officers found fans and drying shelves and in the garage, plastic containers and drying shelves.
“In addition to the abalone, numerous items of equipment were seized which include, among other, a steel pot, gas cylinders and burners, drying shelves, fridge, scale and plastic containers. The abalone was counted by officials from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries an amounted to 4840 wet shucked units, and 34 dry units. The value is yet to be determined and no arrests have been made as yet.”
