Thieves busted for illegal trade of rock lobsters
FIVE men between the ages of 19 and 51 appeared at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 25 May for charges of possession of stolen property. Four of them were released and one of them was remanded into custody. Capt Elizabeth Squires, communications officer at Westville SAPS said at about 6.30pm on Thursday, 24 May, …
FIVE men between the ages of 19 and 51 appeared at the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 25 May for charges of possession of stolen property.
Four of them were released and one of them was remanded into custody.
Capt Elizabeth Squires, communications officer at Westville SAPS said at about 6.30pm on Thursday, 24 May, members from SAP Coastal Patrols in the Harbor and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries received information of marine products being taken out of the harbour.
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“The members tracked the vehicle to the underground parking at the Pavillion Shopping Mall. The vehicle was found with the tail gate open and a deep freezer in the back. Inside the freezer was 575 East Coast lobsters to the value of R30 000,” said Squires.
She added that the five men were detained at Westville SAPS on charges of possession of stolen property and appeared in court the next day.
It is believed the lobsters were bought from fishermen in Coffee Bay, a beach near Port St Johns and was going to be traded to someone that night. Many of the lobsters were under the legal size limit of 65mm.
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