Man found in possession of abalone
The suspect was found in possession of 1 780 units of live abalone stored in freezers.
A 26-year-old man from Pretoria has been arrested for the illegal possession of abalone and trying to bribe officials.
Somalian national, Abdi Guret Noor (26), appeared in the Atteridgeville magistrate’s court on Wednesday.
Noor was charged for contravening the living marine and resources act as well as enticement.
“The case has been moved to September 22 for bail investigations,” said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana.
The accused has also been remanded in custody.
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Noor was arrested in Lazeonia, west of Pretoria, during a joint operation between the Johannesburg police K9 unit and the Hawks’ serious organised crime unit on Monday.
“The investigation team followed up on intelligence on suspicions of illegal possession of abalone.
“Upon arrival at a positively identified business premises, police pounced on the suspect and found boxes full of live abalone inside the freezers,” said Hawks spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu.
The NPA spokesperson said the accused was found in possession of 1 780 units of abalone.
Noor was additionally charged for bribery after trying to bribe officials with R10 000 to let him go. The police seized the boxes of abalone found in the freezers as well as the R10 000 for further investigations.
No one else was arrested in the case, but the Hawks reported that they could not rule out making further arrests.
“The investigation is continuing,” said Mulamu.
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