Media Statement
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation
(HAWKS)

EASTERN CAPE:- The Economic Protected Resources(EPR) team of Serious Organised Crime Investigation of the Hawks in Gqeberha jointly with Dark Water Operations, Department of Environmental Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) and South African Police Service Port of Entry members busted and seized 26 abalone bags, a rubberduck and diving equipment worth R1.2 million on 9 December 2023.

It is alleged that on 9 December 2023 at about 04:00 EPR members received information indicating where a rubberduck was about to offload abalone onto a vehicle .The members are reported to have arrived at the scene and found the rubberduck stuck on the sand where people were in the process of offloading the abalone but fled the scene on seeing the police.

The members confiscated 26 bags of abalone containing 5700 units weighing about 1000 kg and diving equipment. The police are on the lookout for the perpetrators of which their arrest is imminent.
End

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Captain Yolisa Mgolodela
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