Ten suspects have been arrested and R4m worth of abalone seized in several raids by the Hawks yesterday (Monday 13 February) at six different houses with abalone drying facilities in the northern suburbs.
The raids were simultaneously carried out at private dwellings in Durbanville, Plattekloof, West Beach, Atlantic Beach, Table View and Parklands. These dwellings are reportedly linked to the ring leader who was also arrested in this investigative project termed ‘Rambo’.
The properties were under surveillance by the Hawks for a while, following suspicion of illegal activities, said Captain Lloyd Ramovha, spokesperson for the Hawks.
“The resultant search led to the arrests and confiscation of about 22 010 units of dried abalone valued at almost R4m, equipment, as well as two vehicles and an undisclosed amount of cash,” he said.
Brigadier Mzwandile Ndlovu, Western Cape acting provincial head of the directorate for priority crime investigation, praised the investigation team for their “splendid efforts”.
“The onslaught on syndicates that continue to perpetrate abalone smuggling and related transnational crimes is on. We shall not slack in carrying out our constitutional mandate which also embraces protecting our environment. Perhaps it is time perpetrators gather that they are actually swimming against the tide”, he said.
The suspects – all aged between 25 and 56 – will appear in the Bellville and Cape Town magistrate’s courts respectively on 15 February on charges of contravening the marine living resources act.
