The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) this morning took possession of a consignment of 2 627.1 kg of illegally harvested, processed and exported abalone after it returned from Hong Kong.
This shipment that docked in Hong Kong on 10 March 2011 and valued by the Hong Kong authorities at R27 million, is the first consignment to return to South Africa after it has docked.
One man has been arrested in Hong Kong for his involvement and he was fined to $45 000. No arrests have been made in South Africa yet but the matter will be investigated further.
Since 2007, DAFF, working with the South African Police Services, the National Prosecuting Authority and the South African Revenue Services, successfully managed to have three other consignments that were still en-route to the East returned to our shores.
This brings the number of abalone, destined for the East that were seized and confiscated since 2007, to more than 500 000 units.
DAFF will continue to work with partner agencies to bring an end to the illegal trade of our marine resources, particularly abalone that are sensitive to depletion, and we will also establish and strengthen existing relations with international agencies to close the gates so that those who harvest, process and export marine resources illegally will ultimately have no market or entry thereto.
For more information, contact:
Lionel Adendorf
Tel: 021 402 3702
Cell: 076 267 5838
