Officials in Cape Town seize 692 units of freshly poached abalone

On Saturday, 22 February, traffic officers in the Muizenberg area received intel of a vehicle identified to be involved with illegal poaching activities, which was attempting to leave the area.

Earlier in the night, DFFE officials were pursuing a Hyundai when the occupants jumped out of the vehicle and under cover of darkness, fled into the mountain close to the Red Hill informal settlement.

Inside the Hyundai vehicle, DFFE officials seized 692 units of freshly poached abalone.

Secondary vehicle

Using various technology platforms and working in conjunction with community structures, officers quickly identified a secondary vehicle used in the illicit operation.

The vehicle was identified sometime later in the morning trying to leave the area.

Traffic Services responded and brought the vehicle to a stop and prevented any of the occupants from fleeing the scene.

Inside the getaway vehicle, traffic officers identified both the driver and two occupants who had fled the scene earlier in the night.

All suspects were linked and arrested and detained at Simonstown SAPS.

Drew in support

Meanwhile, on Friday morning, traffic officers received information about a vehicle involved in poaching, traveling out of Muizenberg on Baden Powel Drive.

Identifying the vehicle heading in the direction of Mitchells Plain, members knew any attempt to pull the vehicle over would result in the suspects fleeing into the surrounding sand dunes area.

Members quickly drew in support from the Metro Police Tactical Response Unit operating in Mitchells Plain, who set an ambush ahead.

As the suspect vehicle approached, the vehicle was surrounded by the members from Traffic Services and Metro Police, and all occupants within the vehicle secured.

Inside the vehicle, three bags of freshly poached abalone was discovered.

All five suspects were placed under arrest and handed over to Muizenberg SAPS.

The efforts of the Traffic Services enforcement staff must be praised as they continuously do so much more than just regular traffic enforcement regulations.

Have you ever encountered any suspicious-looking abalone – or other – poachers?

Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1

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