Cops seize ivory products worth R2.5m

Police seized abalone in Fairview Crescent.

Police arrested two men and seized illegal ivory products worth R2.5 million and abalone worth more than R180 000 in simultaneous raids on two Milnerton Ridge homes on Wednesday November 21.

According to police spokeswoman Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, the raids followed a joint investigation by SAPS and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF).

“At 2pm, police simultaneously searched two houses situated close to each other.

In Bloemfontein Close, they seized 368 units of dry abalone with an estimated value of R184 000 where a man was arrested.

“At the other residence, in Fairview Crescent, police arrested a Chinese man after a large variety of illegal ivory products to the value of R2.5 million were recovered,” she said.

The men, aged 49 and 53, appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Friday November 23.