Three men from the Overberg are among seven suspects arrested by the Serious Organized Crime Investigation team early Monday morning in connection with their alleged involvement in an abalone smuggling syndicate.
Reliable sources have confirmed one of the suspects is a Law Enforcement official employed by a local municipality in the Overberg. Another suspect is said to be a well-known builder based in the Hermanus area.
The seven suspects between the ages of 45 and 65 were arrested during a multi-disciplinary operation led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation team (Hawks) in the Western Cape, supported by the Public Order Police and anti-gang unit attached to the Overberg District.
These suspects and their co-accused as well as an export company are linked to the 12 cases that date back as far as 2016, and involved the seizure of 25,3 tons of abalone with an estimated value of more than R37 million.
Zinzi Hani, a provincial spokesperson for the Hawks, reported that a combined total of 77 charges stemmed from these 12 cases. The syndicate, she said, operated mainly in the Western Cape and Gauteng.
An eighth suspect, Jianxian Wu, was arrested in Britz in the North West. He was transported to George where he made his first appearance in the George Regional Court in 21 May.
Hani confirmed Wu remained in custody pending a formal bail application and was scheduled to appear on Tuesday 11 June along with his co-accused.
All the suspects face charges of the transportation and illegal storage of abalone, operating an illegal fish processing establishment and for the illegal exporting of abalone.
“Furthermore, the suspects will also be charged in terms of the Prevention of Organized Crime Act for money laundering and managing the affairs of a criminal enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity,” Hani said.
A source has confirmed that some of these charges stem from an incident in 2016 when two Chinese nationals were arrested during a special operation on a farm outside Greyton carried out by the Hawks and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment’s special investigation unit.
More than 2 000 dried abalone as well as equipment, including gas burners, drying racks and huge pots with an estimated street value of R5,7 million, were seized during this operation. The suspects were sentenced after entering into a plea agreement with the State.
