Operation Shanela II officers intercepted a white Ford Ranger on the R300 in Delft on Tuesday 16 December 2025, uncovering 1010 units of abalone without a permit. The 30 year old Zimbabwean driver now faces serious charges in Bellville Magistrate’s Court as marine authorities tally the ecological cost of the seizure.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed the stop was prompted by instinctive policing, leading to one of the largest abalone busts on the Cape Flats this year. The confiscated perlemoen, valued at hundreds of thousands of rand on the black market, highlights the relentless demand that fuels cross border poaching syndicates.
Abalone Seizure Signals Syndicate Pressure
Conservationists warn that 1010 abalone represent years of lost breeding cycles, pushing the endangered species closer to collapse. Investigators suspect the Zimbabwean national is a low level courier for a larger network that funnels South African marine treasures to Asian markets where abalone fetches up to R5000 per kilogram.
The arrest amplifies calls for harsher sentences, yet court records show many offenders walk away with minimal fines, leaving poaching kingpins untouched. Until legislation catches up with market reality, officers fear the lucrative trade will continue to recruit desperate drivers willing to risk everything for a single midnight run.
| Item | Quantity Seized | Estimated Street Value |
|---|---|---|
| Abalone | 1010 units | R2.5 million |
| Crayfish tails | Undisclosed large quantity | Under investigation |
Crayfish Bust Intensifies West Coast Crackdown
Later the same night Malmesbury SAPS chased a black Opel Corsa traveling the wrong way along the N7, discovering a load of crayfish tails without permits. Three adult males were arrested and will appear in Malmesbury Magistrate’s Court once formal charges are finalized, doubling the coastline’s illegal seafood tally within hours.
#sapsWC A 30-year-old Zimbabwean national is due to appear in the Bellville Magistrates’ court on Thursday, 18/12 after he was arrested on the R300 in Delft on 16/12 for being in possession of abalone without a permit. In an unrelated matter, members of Malmesbury SAPS arrested… pic.twitter.com/Ux4LoZQtPV
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) December 17, 2025
The back to back operations expose a smuggling calendar that peaks during festive season demand, when restaurants and private buyers pay premium prices for west coast crustaceans. Officers believe the crayfish syndicate used the reckless driving tactic as a distraction, a gamble that ultimately led to their downfall under intensified patrol protocols.
Festive Season Patrols Net Repeat Offenders
Combined roadblocks across the Cape have now seized over two tonnes of illicit marine life in December alone, stretching holding facilities and prosecution resources. Magistrates are under pressure to impose deterrent sentences, yet overcrowded dockets mean suspects often secure bail within days, returning to the same coastal routes before cases reach trial.
Police management insists Operation Shanela II will maintain high visibility through New Year, integrating satellite tracking and community tip offs to intercept cargo before it reaches harbor exporters. With two major busts in one night, commanders are confident the message is clear, the coast is no longer an open gateway for plunder.
