Cape Town law-enforcement officers made two arrests for illegal crayfish possession over the weekend, confiscating more than 600 specimens in separate operations.
The first arrest took place on Saturday when Marine Unit officers, acting on a tip-off, swooped on an address in Ravensmead. A 47-year-old suspect was found in possession of 420 West Coast crayfish tails and was immediately arrested.
The following day, officers patrolling Hout Bay Harbour received information about illegal crayfish trading. Their investigation led to the arrest of a 45-year-old suspect found with 192 whole crayfish. The suspect was detained at Hout Bay SAPS for trading without the required permit.
“Pilfering of our marine resources is an ongoing problem and often it is linked to other illicit dealings,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith. “Our Marine Unit staff work closely with other agencies to police our coastline and the waters around Cape Town.”
Smith praised public involvement in the arrests and urged continued vigilance as the warmer months approach. “I want to thank the members of the public who were involved in making these arrests happen. As we head into the warmer months, we’ll no doubt see an increase in poaching incidents, so I appeal to the public to blow the whistle on any suspected illegal activities.”
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He also cautioned residents against purchasing illegally harvested marine resources, warning that such purchases “only compound the problem.”
The rock lobster arrests were part of broader enforcement efforts that saw 218 arrests across the city in the past week. Law Enforcement officers made 149 arrests for various transgressions and issued 5 893 fines, while Metro Police arrested 45 people, including 10 for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Traffic officers were equally active, recording 43 365 road offences, impounding 165 public transport vehicles, and executing 1 629 warrants of arrest. An additional 24 suspects were arrested for traffic-related offences, including 13 for drunk driving and six for reckless and negligent driving.
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 1 610 incidents over the weekend.
Residents can report emergencies or criminal behaviour by calling the PECC on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone or 107 from a landline.
