{"id":314129,"date":"2026-03-26T11:29:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T09:29:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/?p=314129"},"modified":"2026-03-26T11:43:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T09:43:55","slug":"hawks-uncover-illegal-abalone-drying-facility-in-thornton-cape-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/hawks-uncover-illegal-abalone-drying-facility-in-thornton-cape-town\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawks uncover illegal abalone drying facility in Thornton, Cape Town"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Hawks (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saps.gov.za\/dpci\/\">Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations<\/a>) said three suspects were arrested this week for allegedly operating an abalone drying facility without a permit at premises in Thornton, Cape Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The suspects, aged between 30 and 48 years, are set to appear in the Goodwood Magistrates&#8217; Court tomorrow (Friday 27 March) following their arrest yesterday (Wednesday 25 March).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lt. Col Siyabulela Vukubi, Hawks spokesperson, said the trio was arrested by the <a href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/four-nabbed-in-bothasig-cape-town-for-cyber-fraud\/\">Hawks<\/a>\u2019 Economic Protected Resources, in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment for illegal dealing in abalone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Hawks acted on information regarding the abalone drying facility in Thornton, Vukubi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUpon arrival at the premises, they encountered two suspects inside a Toyota bakkie that was loaded with containers consisting of abalone. Further information was followed up, and the third suspect was arrested. One managed to evade arrest,&#8221; Vukubi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vukubi said upon counting a total of 3 443 units of wet abalone, and 5 995 units of dried abalone were seized to the value of over R2,5 million.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/tygerburger\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ThorntonAbalone3_63011.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The abalone is worth more than R2,5 million, the Hawks said.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three suspects were arrested for operating an illegal abalone drying facility in Thornton, with over R2.5 million worth of abalone 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