Three suspects are expected to appear in the Cape Town magistrates court today, Thursday 18 April 2013 after an arrest was made during a collaborative clampdown on an abalone processing facility near Atlantis, in the Western Cape late on Wednesday (17 April 2013) evening.
Officials from Fisheries Branch of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), members of the HAWKS and officials from the SA Revenue Services (SARS) swooped on the premises and confiscated 21 742 units of wet abalone, three walk-in freezers and other abalone fishing gear and equipment. This incident forms part of an on-going investigation into illegal abalone fishing activities and syndication.
Two of the suspects are Mozambican nationals and one is a South African.
For further information contact:
Carol Moses
Tel: 021 402 3448
Cell: 079 0464589
E-mail: CarolMO@daff.gov.za
