Two men were sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and fined R500 000 in the Khayelitsha Priority Crimes court for smuggling abalone and for cultivating dagga.
Han Ran (31) and Zhao Huirm (35) were arrested in April‚ when police‚ assisted by the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries‚ responded to information of alleged illegal activity on a small holding on the outskirts of Langebaan‚ a police statement said on Friday.
They discovered an illegal abalone processing facility that included a cooking area‚ drying rooms and a sorting room. Numerous items of equipment used to process the abalone were found‚ including gas burners and cylinders‚ scales‚ fans‚ drying shelves and temperature meters.
About 37 900 units of dried abalone and five units of wet shucked abalone were confiscated during the arrest.
Police also found three rooms equipped as hydroponic laboratories. Various lights‚ reflectors‚ fans and other items of equipment were seized.
Dagga plants were growing in a hothouse at the rear of the building.
“We are pleased with the outcome of this case and regard the sentences as a deterrent for poachers of our marine resources‚” South African Police Services said.
Abalone smugglers get harsh sentences
Two men were sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and fined R500 000 in the Khayelitsha Priority Crimes court for smuggling abalone and for cultivating dagga.
Han Ran (31) and Zhao Huirm (35) were arrested in April‚ when police‚ assisted by the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries‚ responded to information of alleged illegal activity on a small holding on the outskirts of Langebaan‚ a police statement said on Friday.
They discovered an illegal abalone processing facility that included a cooking area‚ drying rooms and a sorting room. Numerous items of equipment used to process the abalone were found‚ including gas burners and cylinders‚ scales‚ fans‚ drying shelves and temperature meters.
About 37 900 units of dried abalone and five units of wet shucked abalone were confiscated during the arrest.
Police also found three rooms equipped as hydroponic laboratories. Various lights‚ reflectors‚ fans and other items of equipment were seized.
Dagga plants were growing in a hothouse at the rear of the building.
“We are pleased with the outcome of this case and regard the sentences as a deterrent for poachers of our marine resources‚” South African Police Services said.
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