EASTERN CAPE – The efforts by South African Police Service to protect marine life from illegal poachers continue to yield results.
In two unrelated incidents, members of the Port Elizabeth K9 unit disrupted suspects during alleged abalone poaching in the area of flat rock alongside Marine Drive, Humewood.
On Saturday 06 June 2020 at about 10:45 the members were busy with patrols in Marine Drive when they received information of three suspects allegedly busy with abalone poaching. The members spotted the three suspects who were still in the water. After coming to the shore, a 40-year-old man was arrested and a plastic bag containing seven live periwinkles, 61 sandworms, 15 units of undersized abalone and one octopus was found in his possession. He was charged with the Contravention of Marine Living Resources Act 18/1998 while the other two suspects were issued a fine for Contravention of Marine Living Resources Act 18/1998 by engaging and collecting of sandworms for fishing without a permit.
The suspect will appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Monday, 8 June 2020.
In another unrelated incident on Saturday 06 June 2020 at about 19:30 while in Marine Drive, Humewood, the members noticed a blue Polo Classic vehicle parked in the bushes opposite the Golf Club. As the members approached the vehicle, the vehicle sped away and a high-speed chase ensued. As they approached the Summerstrand residential area the passenger in the vehicle threw a plastic bag out of the window. The members stopped next to the bag and noticed that it contained abalone. The suspects fled and later the members counted 269 units of abalone in the bag.