trawler

An overloaded trawler was escorted back to Gqeberha harbour by police on Thursday, 29 September. Image: SAPS.

Over 4.6 tons of squid confiscated from overloaded trawler

The trawler was over capacity by six people. Police also found 479 baggies of dagga aboard the fishing vessel on Thursday.

trawler

An overloaded trawler was escorted back to Gqeberha harbour by police on Thursday, 29 September. Image: SAPS.

The police said it ventured “into the deep seas” during an operation in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on Thursday, 29 September, and hooked tons of squid and bags of dagga from a non-compliant vessel.

SQUID AND DAGGA TAKEN FROM TRAWLER

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs (DFFE) and various police units were conducting inspections on fishing vessels in the sea near Van Stadens.

“As they embarked on a local trawler, they established that the vessel was carrying more people on board as it was supposed to,” said Naidu.

The vessel in question is allowed to carry a maximum of 20 people, however, inspectors found 26 people on board.

The trawler was escorted back to Gqeberha harbour and the Captain will be issued a fine by police on Friday, 30 September, for non-compliance with a permit in terms of the Marine Resources Act.

“Due to the non-compliance, a total of 4,633 tons of squid on board was confiscated by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environmental Affairs,” said the police spokesperson.

The trawler’s squid has an estimated value of R400 000. The police also found 479 packets of dagga on board, which were seized without any arrests.

479 packets of dagga were found aboard. Image: SAPS.

“Criminality knows no boundaries and police will be monitoring the coastline to ensure that those using the sea as a mode of transport or fishing within the Nelson Mandela Bay and Humansdorp areas, is free from criminal or unlawful activities,” said the police spokesperson.

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