Cape Town - Two men have been arrested for being in possession of abalone with an estimated street value of R221 540 on the N2 towards Caledon, Western Cape police said.
Captain Frederick van Wyk said the two were apprehended near Riviersonderend on Sunday.
“Riviersonderend SAPS members received information of a suspicious white Toyota Corolla Verso vehicle… carrying abalone.” Police went on the lookout for the vehicle and spotted it on the R326, said van Wyk.
“As members were driving behind the suspicious vehicle, they suddenly stopped and the SAPS vehicle collided with them.”
Van Wyk said that the driver and the passenger of the Toyota jumped out of the vehicle and ran away. But the passenger was arrested soon after, and the driver was later arrested while standing next to the N2, he said.
“When the members searched the vehicle they found 2915 units of abalone with an estimated street value of R221 540.00 in it.”
The two, aged 32 and 36, are both from Gansbaai.
The abalone and vehicle were seized and handed in as evidence.
The men were expected to appear in the Caledon Magistrate’s Court soon on charges of illegal possession of abalone.
ANA