Three suspects were arrested for illegally storing R9 million worth of crayfish.
The Community Policing Forum (CPF) in Elsies River has welcomed the swift arrest of three suspects found in possession of crayfish with a street value of R9 million.
The suspects were arrested at a warehouse at Racing Park in Milnerton on Wednesday as part of police efforts to crack down on the illegal crayfish trade.
Western Cape Police spokesman Captain Nowonga Sukwana said police had followed up on information about a truck being hijacked in the early hours of Wednesday morning, paving the way for an integrated operation.
Members of the Maitland Flying Squad, Crime Intelligence, Stock Theft and the Endangered Species Unit raided the property.
“Members searched the premises and found crayfish stored in 180 iceboxes with an estimated street value of R9 million,” Sukwana said.
CPF spokesman Mark Lindsell believed the bust to be one of the largest in the area.
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“The illegal crawfish trade is a huge problem, and the police did a fantastic job of catching those involved. This is probably one of the largest illegal crawfish raids the area has seen,” Lindsell added.
According to police, the suspects appeared before the Cape Town Magistrate Court on Friday. His case was postponed to next week.
Meanwhile, the Maitland Flying Squad on Thursday arrested a 21-year-old man in Belhar for being in possession of 3,864 crayfish without permission.
“Members followed up on information about crayfish tails. They swept in and searched the facility [where they found] 1.7 million rand worth of crayfish tails in a fridge,” Gwala added.
The suspect will appear in Bellville Magistrates Court on Monday.
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