Suspects caught with abalone remain in custody
POLOKWANE
The three suspects, who were arrested after they were caught transporting abalone in the City of Polokwane on January 31, were denied bail.
Boitumelo Rasakanya (26), Merven Phiri (33) and Jack Kgobe (36) appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on February 3.
They were all denied bail and their case was postponed to the 7th February, for a formal bail application.
The suspects are facing a charge of possession of endangered Species.
The suspects were arrested during an Intelligence led Joint operation comprised of the Provincial Endangered Species Unit, the Polokwane Crime Intelligence Unit, the Polokwane K9 Unit and the SAPS Polokwane International Airport.
Police followed information about a grey NP200 Bakkie which was travelling from Polokwane to Beitbridge Port of Entry.
In the process, 37 boxes full of abalone with the estimated value of R7 million were found inside the vehicle and subsequently, three occupants were arrested.
The origin and destination of these abalone will still be determined by the ongoing SAPS investigations.
