CRIME SCENE: Camps Bay, Cape Town: Three suspected poachers have been arrested and e than 500 abalone confiscated in an operation here.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, 14 July 2026, the City of Cape Town’s Metro Police and Traffic Services acted on intelligence and intercepted two vehicles allegedly involved in an organised abalone poaching operation along Victoria Road in Camps Bay.

According to the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, marine poaching is far more than an environmental crime.

“It is a sophisticated organised crime enterprise that has, for decades, generated millions of Rands for criminal syndicates.

“The City of Cape Town recognised these links many years ago, which is why we established a dedicated Law Enforcement Marine Unit to target illegal abalone harvesting,” said Smith.

Besides the arrests and confiscated abalone, two vehicles were also confiscated in Camps Bay.