Following a raid on an abalone processing plant in Hekpoort earlier this morning, the police have released a statement.
It explained that members of the West Rand Flying Squad received a tip-off about a suspicious truck loaded with fresh abalone that was coming from Cape Town and heading towards a farm in Hekpoort on Monday evening.
Read the initial article here:
https://www.citizen.co.za/krugersdorp-news/395992/breaking-major-abalone-bust-on-the-west-randorjust-in-abalone-lab-found-on-west-rand-farm/
“It is alleged that from here, the truck would transport the processed abalone to Mozambique,” explained the statement from Brigadier Mathapelo Peters.
When police arrived at the farm, they found what appeared to be an illegal processing and packaging plant, with both raw and processed abalone.
The estimated total value of the abalone was about R4 million, but the statement said that it still needed to be confirmed by experts.
“In the building, police also found equipment and chemicals suspected to be used during the processing and packaging of the abalone,” the statement read.
The investigation continued into the early hours of Tuesday, 19 November, and led police to two other houses on the farm. Seven suspects – the owner of the farm, a man from Cape Town, a Chinese national, three Mozambican men and a local woman – were taken into custody.
The police also recovered two illegal firearms with ammunition at the house. One of the firearms has already been confirmed as reported stolen in Klerksdorp, while the second firearm’s serial number had been filed off.
“An undisclosed amount of cash was also seized for further investigation,” said the statement.
The suspects in this case will face charges of illegal possession of and dealing in abalone, as well as possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
“Police will further engage the Department of Home Affairs to verify the status of the Chinese and Mozambican nationals in the country.”
The Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela said he appreciated the multi-disciplinary police team that worked with other private security companies throughout the night to ensure the suspects were arrested.
“Our Crime Intelligence plays a very big part in the fight against crime, and we appreciate that they are behind most of the successful safer festive season operations that are under way in the province,” cited General Mawela.
He also took the opportunity to remind all members of the police, Metro Police Departments, and Provincial Traffic, that there needs to be a different approach to fighting crime in anticipation of improved results. Everyone must work together to turn the tide against crime.
