Abalone worth R27 million has been returned to Cape Town after it was seized from a ship that docked in Hong Kong.
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said it was the first time a consignment had been returned to our shores after having docked elsewhere.
Department spokesman Lionel Adendorf said on Tuesday that the consignment, which weighed 2 627kg, was illegally harvested and processed in Cape Town before being exported to Hong Kong.
“This shipment that docked in Hong Kong on March 10, 2011, and valued by the Hong Kong authorities at R27m, is the first consignment to return to South Africa after it had docked.
“One man has been arrested in Hong Kong for his involvement and he was fined $45 000 (R341 720).”
He said that since 2007, the department had managed to have three other consignments that were still en route to the East returned to South Africa with the help of the police, as well as Sars. “This brings the number of abalone, destined for the East, that were seized and confiscated since 2007 to more than 500 000 units.”
Adendorf said the department would also establish and strengthen existing relations with international agencies.
The first bust was in 2007 when 218 000 units of abalone were confiscated. Then in July 2010, about 55 000 units were confiscated and last July, 42 619 units of abalone were confiscated
This latest success follows an operation that ended in gunfire in Hangberg last week.
The police and the department’s Special Investigations Unit were told that five boats and about 50 men were diving for abalone illegally near Robben Island.
They followed the gang to Hangberg where 50 bags stacked with abalone were taken to two different premises in Rhode Vos Road.
Shots were fired and residents threw rocks and blocked roads. One person was arrested.
Cape Argus