PORT ELIZABETH - BIZARRE TWIST SEES COUPLE CAUGHT WITH ABALONE WORTH OVER R320 000 AT ACCIDENT SCENE

SAPS Swartkops assisted by Port Elizabeth K9 unit arrested a couple at an accident scene after abalone was found in the boot of their Opel Corsa early Sunday evening, 31 January 2021.

It is alleged that at about 17:30, SAPS Swartkops attended a complaint of an accident on the N2 near Coega IDZ. On arrival, they found a silver Opel Corsa had overturned. After assessing the damage of the vehicle, they discovered 8 bags containing 809 units of abalone worth R320 000-00 in the boot.

The couple aged 33 and 23 years were driving from Port Alfred allegedly on route to Korsten. They were detained for contravention of the Marine Living Resource Act, 19 of 1998 Regulation 36 sub sect 1 – illegal possession of abalone and Regulation 58 sub sect 1 – illegal harvesting, diving and transportation of abalone without a permit.

They are expected to appear in the Motherwell Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 2 February 2021.