Perlemoen poachers attack police
2010-02-01 20:09
Cape Town - Cape Town police seized perlemoen (abalone) worth about R2.3m and arrested one man in three separate incidents over the weekend.
Gansbaai police and marine and coastal management confronted 60 people allegedly poaching illegally on Saturday around 19:00, spokesperson Frederick van Wyk said in a statement on Monday.
"The group fired gunshots, threw petrol bombs and stones towards police, who then returned fire."
One of the alleged poachers was shot in the arm.
"No arrests were made, but police managed to confiscate five bags containing more than 1 620 perlemoen with an estimated value of R400 000."
Around 20:45 on Saturday, Vredenburg police acting on a tip-off, arrested a 23-year-old Chinese man for possession of perlemoen worth about R1m on the farm Eensaamheid. Equipment used for poaching was also seized. The man would appear in the Vredenburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
Later that night police confiscated more abalone from a bakkie during routine patrols in Napier. When the bakkie was stopped the occupants jumped out and ran into the bushes.
"Upon searching the bakkie, police found 13 plastic bins filled with abalone. It contained 3 264 units with an estimate value of R900 000," he said.
Perlemoen was listed as an endangered species in 2007.
- SAPA