After a high-speed car chase, members of the Overstrand Law Enforcement K-9 assisted in arresting four suspected members of an abalone smuggling syndicate.
On Friday 2 December, the K-9 Unit, along with the Land Invasion and Mobile units, followed up on leads about a consignment of abalone being illegally transported.
The office of the Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, reported that the units gave chase and managed to arrest the suspects on the N2 highway close to the Grabouw area.
Two vehicles with a combined estimated value of R270 000, seven cellphones and 1 563 units of the seafood with an estimated street value of R350 000 were confiscated.
Allen said: “These successes are part of the reason we, as the Western Cape Government, continue to invest in the K-9 Unit.
They are disrupting the flow of illicit items and helping to put those involved in these illegal activities behind bars.
“The justice system must play its part by denying these suspects bail, finding them guilty and imposing heavy sentences, so it can serve as a deterrent to would-be criminals.
“We have to persevere in our fight against these criminal elements, as this will help establish safer environments where both human and marine life is safe and secured.”
The Overstrand unit, which operates throughout the district, has six officers and six dogs.
Its main objective is to assist the South African Police Service and other role-players with crime fighting.
It also assists the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs in curbing the illegal trade of abalone, crayfish and other marine products.
“There is a great need for the expansion of the K-9 units,” Allen said, “particularly since the police’s K-9 unit has been depleted in the Western Cape.
“The national government continues to show that resourcing the police in this province is not a priority, resulting in our communities, major highways and coastlines not being protected properly.
“As the Western Cape Government we strategically want to have more K-9 units deployed in critical areas, and for this reason it is important that the police in the Western Cape be run by a capable provincial government such as ours. This will ensure that its K-9 Unit can also be well-resourced and used effectively.
“We will not cease our successful and efficient working relationship with all role-players, as we are fully aware that through collaboration we will be able to create safer roads, coastlines and communities.”
Captain Raldene Atson, spokesperson for the Gabouw police, confirmed four suspects – a 45-year old woman and three men aged 39, 40 and 22 – had appeared in the Grabouw Magistrates’ Court on Monday (5 December) on a charge of illegal possession of abalone.
“A silver Aveo was confiscated in connection with this incident,” he said. “A white GWM bakkie was confiscated on Wednesday after the driver was found in possession of West Coast Rock Lobster.”
One suspect, a 22-year-old man from Elsies River, was arrested on Wednesday on the N2 near Kromco, after 17 bags containing 242 West Coast Rock Lobster tails, 30 undersized whole crayfish and 90 WCRL were found in his possession.
The suspect appeared in court on charges related to the contravention of the Marine Living Resources Act.
