East London - Police in East London recovered abalone worth more than R200 000 following a raid on a house in Gonubie.
Police said the raid came about as the result of an intelligence-driven operation which led to a search warrant being issued.
“It is alleged that owner willingly pointed out the big chest freezer in the garage where 25 packets of frozen de-shelled abalone which was about 10 kg in weight,” police said in a statement.
“The frozen abalone was defrosted and amounted to 1 576 units. 669 dried abalone was also recovered in the same garage. The combined street value of the abalone is estimated at more than R200 000.”
Police said numerous items linked to the illegal harvesting of abalone such as diving cylinders, wet suits, weight belts, fans and weighing scales were also confiscated.
A suspect in his fifties was arrested and was expected to appear in the East London Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of Contravention of the Marine Resources Act.
ANA