WESTERN CAPE – The protection of living marine resources remain key to policing priorities in the Western Cape and this commitment ensured that a suspected abalone poacher find himself behind bars. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrates’ court on Monday, 07 March 2022.

Rural Flying Squad members conducted patrols along the N2 highway at Plettenberg Bay on Thursday afternoon 03 March 2022 when they were alerted of possible illicit poaching activities in the water near The Crags, just outside Plettenberg Bay. They operationalised the information and tactically responded to the area with rangers from the South African National Parks. Upon arrival they noticed activities in the water where they cornered a man with 29 units of abalone in his possession. He was subsequently arrested.

The 35-year-old suspect, from Kleinmond in the Overberg area, is in police custody. He is facing a charge of possession of abalone.

Western Cape police management commended those involved with the arrest. Such interventions will continue as part of concerted efforts by police and other law enforcement agencies to bring the unlawful harvesting as well as trafficking of the valuable living marine resources along the coast to a halt.

Source: South African Police Service