WATCH | Suspected abalone poachers arrested after high-speed Cape Town chase
Police say suspects fled a vehicle blockade in Sea Point before crashing into a pavement. Abalone was recovered and arrests were made during an intelligence-led operation.
In Cape Town, police apprehended suspected abalone poachers on Wednesday after a high-speed chase through the city's streets. As the vehicle sped away, officers opened fire at the tires, attempting to bring the suspects to a halt. The driver managed to reverse the car, with the back passenger door still open, and pointed a firearm at one of the occupants seated inside.
Police seized abalone during the operation, though the exact quantity remains undisclosed. Heather Tager, Chief Operating Officer of the Sea Point City Improvement District, praised the police and Intelligence Unit for their swift action in apprehending the suspects. The South African Police Service also made arrests and recovered abalone from a second vehicle.
A 38-year-old man was arrested on September 21, with police finding an estimated street value of R500,000 worth of goods, including a significant quantity of lobsters, abalone, prawns, and lobster eggs concealed in plastic bags. He faces charges under the Marine Living Resources Act and is set to appear in Wynberg Magistrates' Court.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
