The luck of abalone poachers ran out last night when a housebreaking complaint thwarted their plans. At around 19:00, members of the Cape Town K9 unit reacted on a radio broadcast that a house in De La Fontein Road Monte Vista is being burgled. Upon their arrival a man was seen fleeing the premises, who managed to evade his arrest.
An investigation inside the house led to the discovery of six large chest freezers filled with abalone with an estimated street value of R1.3 million. One occupant of the house, a Malawian woman was arrested and will appear in the Goodwood Magistrates court today on charges relating to the Living Marine Resources Act.
The circumstances surrounding the discovery are still under investigation and the suspect’s accomplices are being sought.
Suspect arrested in Monte Vista with Abalone valued at R1.3 Millionhttps://t.co/jQzlG81bAD #ArriveAlive #Abalone @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/uYGmkemFvh
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) May 20, 2019