As the West Coast rock-lobster season is currently open, anti-poaching actions were part of the multi-disciplinary initiative executed over the past weekend in Port Nolloth, Kleinzee, Vioolsdrif, Groenrivier and Alexander Bay.
Collective actions of Operation Phakisa also concentrated on marine-related crimes and illicit mining, with compliance inspections at the harbours and fishing shops in Port Nolloth and Hondeklip Bay also taking place.
Actions executed included stop-and-searches, vehicle check points, and sea and foot patrols; compliance inspections to local businesses and mines; drug and other commodity smuggling and compliance visits to the harbour, ports and docking bays.
Four vehicle check points were conducted on the roads between Port Nolloth and Alexander Bay, and Port Nolloth and Kleinzee during which numerous vehicles and persons were stopped and searched.
At one of the points between Port Nolloth and Kleinzee, a white Mercedes Benz with five occupants was stopped.
Two of the five occupants were detained for being undocumented and were charged for money laundering and racketeering. The driver and the other two occupants were released as they offered the two suspects a lift.
In another action, a house in McDougalls Bay was raided and a large amount of under-sized West Coast rock-lobsters valued at approximately R50 000 were confiscated. The 27-year-old male owner was arrested and charged for possession of undersized West Coast rock-lobsters and the possession of undersized White Steenbras valued at R8 500.
A total of ten undocumented persons were arrested and detained, and dagga with an estimated street value of R5 000 was seized during raids at identified drugs houses in Sizamile and Nollothville in Port Nolloth.
The multi-disciplinary operations were executed under the overall command of the deputy provincial commissioner for Policing, Maj. Gen. Luntu Ngubelanga, the provincial head of Operational Response Services, Brig. Monica Sebili, and the provincial head Corporate Communication and Liaison, Brig. Mashay Gamieldien, who actively participated in the actions.
Members of various police district and provincial units and components, as well as members of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries; Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development; Immigration and Customs; and SANParks executed the disruptive actions.
Ngubelanga stated that the police will eradicate crime committed at sea and on land, and that concerted efforts will be made to clamp down on illegal mining.
In another police action, police members of the ZF Mcgawu District received information on Friday, 3 February, about a female that was allegedly transporting dagga in a taxi to Upington.
Sgt Omphile Masegela, Upington Corporate Communication officer, said the information was operationalised and the taxi was stopped on the N14 Road, outside Upington. The woman’s luggage was searched and dagga to the estimated value of R512 500 was found and seized.
The 47-year-old woman was arrested and is expected to appear in court soon.
