Abalone of R7 million confiscated at JHB airport

Dried abalone worth more than R7 million was confiscated

Dried abalone worth more than R7 million was confiscated at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport. The consignment was intercepted by officials from the South African Revenue Services and anti-smuggling officers.

The first batch of abalone was seized at the airport on Wednesday; weighing 1.2 tons. Yesterday, another consignment, weighing 1.3 tons, was confiscated.

Officials say that the abalone was poached in the Western Cape and was destined for Vietnam, via Singapore.

No arrests have yet been made.

This is the second largest abalone haul in two years. Last year a consignment valued at R22 million was confiscated in Cape Town.