A 26 year old man is expected to appear in the Atteridgeville Magistrates’ Court for contravention of the Living Marine and Resources Act and enticement.
A joint operation conducted by the SAPS Johannesburg K9 unit and Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation in Germiston resulted in the apprehension of a 26-year-old man in Laezonia, West of Pretoria on 14 September 2021.
The investigation team followed up on intelligence on suspicions of illegal possession of abalone. Upon arrival at a positively identified business premises, police pounced on the suspect and found boxes full of live abalone inside the freezers.
During the suspect’s apprehension, the suspect allegedly enticed police officers with an amount of R10 000-00 for them to let him go.
Police seized abalone as well as the R10 000-00 in cash for further investigation.
He was charged and is expected to appear in court. More arrests cannot be ruled out and the investigation is continuing.
