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Millions of rands worth of abalone have been caught in two separate instances in the Western cape by police.
Fisheries Minister Dion George has welcomed the arrest of alleged abalone poachers and smugglers in two separate incidents in the Western Cape this week.
Police intercepted a truck near Rawsonville in the Boland on Monday and seized dried abalone worth R5-million. Two people were arrested.
A day later, nine suspected poachers were nabbed near Robben Island during a joint operation between the department, the police and other law enforcement agencies.
George says a police drone was used to arrest the suspects.
Police recovered diving equipment and gear.
#sapsWC Intell driven op between #SAPS Breederiver #K9unit and Sea Fisheries led to the seizure of #abalone during a stop and search at the weighbridge on the N1 in Rawsonville on Monday afternoon, 22/09.
Over 13 000 units of abalone with an estimate value of R3,3 MIL seized. An… pic.twitter.com/omD7h8AHqj
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 23, 2025
