Abalone Worth R2.37 Million Seized at Durban Port, South Africa

An operation by the Hawks and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has led to the seizure of 1.6 tonnes of abalone valued at R2.37 million!

According to a recent investigative programme by Carte Blanche, abalone poaching is so rampant in South Africa it is driving the shellfish to extinction.

The revenue service said in a statement that the sting operation at the port of Durban was initiated after the Hawks had seized illegally harvested abalone from a container in Port Elizabeth, in the Eastern Cape earlier this month.

“Based on the intelligence from the Port Elizabeth bust, a ship travelling to Sri Lanka was ordered to return to South Africa and arrived in Durban earlier this week.

“A suspicious container was removed from the ship and inspected after two SARS Customs sniffer dogs indicated the possible concealment of endangered species products in the container.”

The container was found to have 156 boxes of frozen abalone hidden amongst other items.

The frozen boxes of abalone were handed over to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) and the Hawks for further investigation.

Carte Blanche’s expose two months ago on the abalone poaching in South Africa featured the red-handed capture of poachers… brazenly diving in broad daylight with bags of abalone. Carte Blanche asked at the time: why are authorities still struggling to get this illegal trade under control?

Sources: SAnews.gov.za, Carte Blanche

We catch abalone poachers, brazenly diving in broad daylight for abalone. Why is this illegal trade growing? #CarteBlanche @journojohn pic.twitter.com/gNXYz9OBvp

— Carte Blanche (@carteblanchetv) November 22, 2017

To watch the above episode of Carte Blanche, if you are a South African abroad – simply subscribe to Showmax. All episodes of Carte Blanche are broadcast the Tuesday after they air in SA.