Operation Neptune cracks down

2003-05-01 16:51

Cape Town - The inter-agency Operation Neptune task team fighting against perlemoen poaching has confiscated perlemoen worth R109 000, four inflatable boats and a vehicle, police said on Thursday

Operation Neptune spokesperson Inspector Eben Groenewald said the successes, which included the confiscations, started with a high-speed car chase through the coastal town of Hermanus on Wednesday evening following a tip-off.

"In the main road at Eastcliff (part of Hermanus), the police vehicle collided with the suspects' car, and two occupants ran away. They were arrested soon afterwards in bushes near the golf course with the assistance of the police dog unit," he said.

The vehicle, a Ford Cortina, and 715 perlemoen worth at least R54 000 were confiscated. The two men are expected to appear in court soon.

Later on Wednesday evening, a police patrol arrested three men with diving equipment and 56 perlemoen worth at least R4 000 in their possession.

About a 30 minutes later Neptune officials arrested a man near the old harbour with 68 perlemoen worth about R5 000. The four will appear in court shortly.

Only minutes into Thursday four inflatable boats and four trailers were confiscated at the Kleinbaai slipway near Gansbaai after they had arrived back from the sea with suspected poachers on board.

"Although no (perlemoen) were found on the boats, it was confiscated because it had no safety equipment and was not registered to be at sea at night," Groenewald said.

He said although none of the trailers displayed number plates, license discs or chassis numbers, no one was arrested.

Early on Thursday morning a woman from Bredasdorp was arrested between Gansbaai and Stanford after her red Uno was searched and 609 perlemoen worth approximately R46 000 were found in her vehicle. She was expected to appear in court shortly.

- SAPA