Metro Police Officers attached to the Special Operations Unit made a significant bust in Hout Bay early this morning.
They held an integrated operation with Law Enforcement and the City’s Internal Investigations Unit, following information of potential criminal activity related to poaching.
At around 04:00, the City’s Eye in the Sky spotted suspicious individuals near Robben Island.
The suspects’ boat was followed to Hout Bay harbour and tracked the movements of persons in the vicinity, while officers on the ground responded and searched the area.
They found 23 bags of abalone weighing just over 250 kilograms hidden between residential properties.
A 22-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of abalone and detained at Hout Bay SAPS.
As staff were leaving the area, some community members threw stones at one of the vehicles.
This bust is but the latest example of how we are using technology to extend our reach and track criminal activity that could otherwise have gone undetected.
The Eye in the Sky’s capabilities allow authorities to track suspicious behaviour, identify heat signatures, and gather critical evidence in a wide range of scenarios.
Poaching is one of the many enforcement challenges in our city, and hopefully this success will make criminals think twice about plundering our natural resources.
[Info via JP Smith]
