Cape Town – Police in the Western Cape have dealt poachers a heavy blow, confiscating abalone with an estimated street value of R2.4 million. In a statement released on Friday, provincial police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said officers of the Overberg cluster made the confiscation at about 8 pm on Thursday. He said officers were conducting crime-prevention patrols when they received information about a vehicle travelling from Buffeljags in the direction of Stanford. Swartbooi said officers immediately put their strategy into operation and patrolled the route.
“When the driver of the suspicious vehicle transporting the load became aware of the presence of the police members, he tried to flee and evade an arrest. Eventually he lost control, which resulted in the vehicle ending up in a ditch next to the road,” he said.
Swartbooi said the suspect managed to flee on foot. Officers confiscated the abalone and recorded a total of 6 123 units. Police have urged anyone with information that can lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the suspect to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
