South African Correspondent
In a massive abalone bust in Cape Town, South African police have arrested three foreigners – two Zimbabweans aged 28 and 31, and a 53-year-old Chinese national.
The raid, conducted by a tactical response team, uncovered an estimated R10.3 million worth of abalone and equipment at a storage facility in Rylands.
According to Lt-Col Malcolm Pojie, police spokesperson, the team acted on a tip about the storage facility, leading them to an industrial area in Rylands, near Philippi. Upon arrival, they noticed one suspect attempting to flee, prompting the arrest.
Inside the facility, police found a large storage building converted into an abalone processing unit, with two men processing a substantial quantity of abalone – 11,485 wet and 15,200 dry abalone. The suspects now face charges of illegal possession of abalone.
Abalone is a large marine gastropod mollusk. The large sea snail is most often found in the cold waters of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Japan, and the west coast of North America. It has extremely rich, flavorful, and highly prized meat that is considered a culinary delicacy.
In a separate operation, police discovered 2,505 units of abandoned abalone in a vehicle at Nyanga. The three arrested individuals are set to appear in court.
Abalone Bust Details:
- Value: R10.3 million worth of abalone and equipment
- Location: Rylands, Cape Town
- Suspects: 2 Zimbabweans (28 and 31 years old), 1 Chinese national (53 years old)
- Charges: Illegal possession of abalone.