CAPE TOWN – Abalone with an estimated street value of R950,000 was seized following a high-speed sea chase in Hout Bay in the early hours of Friday morning, Western Cape police said.
Police spokeswoman Noloyiso Rwexana said officers from the Cape Town sea border unit, the special task force and the department of agriculture, fisheries and forestry conducted a joint operation after they received a tip-off about possible poaching that was taking place at Robben Island.
“A vessel was spotted entering Hout Bay Harbour this [Friday] morning about 04:00, without any navigational lights,” said Rwexana.
“The poaching vessel spotted the law enforcement vessels and sped off into Hout Bay harbour.”
The crew abandoned the vessel by jumping onto the quayside and “disappeared among the factories”, she said.
Officers took the vessel to the Cape Town harbour where it was inspected.
“A total of 2,858 units of abalone, nine West Coast rock lobsters and other equipment were seized,” said Rwexana.
No arrests were made.
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