R13m perlemoen seized
2003-05-15 18:38
Cape Town - The Western Cape organised crime unit achieved a major breakthrough and possibly smashed an international syndicate on Thursday when they seized R13m's worth of perlemoen (abalone) at a house in Somerset West.
Three Chinese nationals in their early 30s were arrested during the raid, police said in a statement.
According to Superintendent Riaan Pool, the bust followed months of investigation into the syndicate. At the scene police confiscated more than 5 000 fresh perlemoen, worth about R1.2m and 7 000 dried perlemoen, worth approximately R11.6m.
The perlemoen were found in different stages of processing at the "dry-house" and "processing factory", said Pool.
He said that several box-freezers and other equipment used in the processing of the perlemoen, as well as a vehicle, were confiscated by the police.
The trio would remain in custody until their appearance in the Somerset West Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Pool said that before Thursday's breakthrough police had seized R18m worth of perlemoen since January this year.
During the various investigations 31 people, including two Chinese, a Portuguese national, a Bulgarian and a Mozambican, were arrested. The figure did not include Thursday's arrests.
More than 80 000 fresh perlemoen were also confiscated, as were 11 vehicles, five trailers, 13 box freezers, a boat and diving equipment, collectively worth about R2m.
About R200 000 cash was also seized.
- SAPA