Initial investigation reveals that the three suspects were en-route to PE from Cape Town when traffic officers pulled over the vehicle they travelled in during a routine vehicle roadworthy check on the N2 near Swellendam.

The suspects drove off in the direction of Heidelberg directly after the inspection and as they pulled away, the traffic officers detect a strange smell coming from the rear of the bakkie - a silver Ford Ranger. They immediately alerted the Heidelberg and Riversdale police stations, that dispatched their members on the N2 in an attempt to stop the suspects and search the vehicle.

Eventually, Riversdale Police set up a roadblock on the N2 and managed to pull over the vehicle. They ensued with a search and discovered 66 bags of abalone that were hidden in the back of the bakkie. The three occupants, from Gugulethu and Mfuleni respectively, aged between 26 and 31 years old, were arrested on the spot and the bakkie as well as the find were confiscated.

The abalone was handed to officials from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff) who inspected it and counted a total of 7 534 pieces of abalone that was concealed in the 66 plastic bags. The find is estimated at more than R1-million.

The suspects are scheduled to appear in the Riversdale Magistrate’s Court for dealing in abalone, alternatively the possession of abalone.

Western Cape provincial management has expressed their gratitude towards the provincial traffic officials and the police members involved in this bust that led to the arrest of the three suspects. Their vigilance should be contagious to other law enforcers, who must follow suit to ensure that those who threatened the safety of all communities in the Western Cape are brought to book.