Monday, February 01, 2010

14 arrested for possession of abalone

By Kim Saulse
01 February 2010

Police say they have “once again shown a pedigree of readiness for the 2010 Soccer World Cup” following an operation which led to the arrest of 14 people in possession of abalone, early this morning in prohibited Nature Reserve waters at Robben Island.

“This morning Borderline Police at Table Bay Harbour spotted three suspicious boats in prohibited Nature Reserve waters at Robben Island,” said Inspector November Filander.

The National Police Task Force Unit were alerted, who reacted swiftly with their rubber duck boats and managed to arrest 14 people.

The 14 were in possession of 194 abalone and grey fish; diving equipment and three rubber duck boats worth an estimated value of R1.5-million.

The suspects from Port Elizabeth, Brackenfell and Hout Bay will appear in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

They face charges of “being in possession of prohibited items in a prohibited area, Marine Living Resources Act 1998, Regulations for protection of wild abalone”.

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