Trio in court over N$1.7 million abalone smuggling

Three Warmbad residents appeared in the Karasburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday in connection with the alleged smuggling of abalone worth approximately N$1.7 million across the Orange River.Laurentius Basson, Petrus Alexander Bock, and Mannetjie Harold Schultz – all well-known in the Warmbad area – appeared before Magistrate Melissa Mungunda. Their case was postponed to 23 and 24 July. Ester Jafet represented the state.The trio faces multiple charges, including assisting Chinese nationals in smuggling 407 kg of abalone in July 2022. They are also charged with kidnapping and violating the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).According to available information, the accused allegedly assisted two Chinese nationals – Xiaohui Wu and Xinda Li – in smuggling the abalone across the Orange River using an inflatable boat. At least one other Chinese national reportedly remained on the South African side of the river at Witbank. Wu and Li were arrested in Warmbad on 19 July 2022.A bakkie reportedly belonging to Basson was allegedly used to transport the smuggled abalone from the river to Warmbad. The vehicle has since been seized by authorities.Sources further claim that the Chinese nationals established a temporary processing facility at Rooikoppies on the outskirts of Warmbad, where the abalone was dried. The facility was located in a building owned by Bock.Namibian police allegedly found the Chinese nationals’ passports at Basson’s residence. Since the documents contained no Namibian entry stamps or visas, Wu and Li were declared illegal immigrants, charged, and subsequently deported.The Namibian Police’s Division for Protected Resources in Oranjemund played a central role in the investigation. The seized abalone was handed over to the then Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.Namibia has increasingly become a transit route for the illegal trade of abalone from South Africa to China.A 2022 report on wildlife crime and law enforcement in Namibia confirmed that a major cross-border smuggling operation was uncovered in Warmbad that year. The report also highlighted large shipments of abalone intercepted in prior years at Hosea Kutako International Airport and other key customs points.– francoise@nmh.com.na

Trio in court over N$1.7 million abalone smuggling

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-04-17

Please login to leave a comment

Trio in court over N$1.7 million abalone smuggling

Comments

Namibian Sun 2025-04-17

Please login to leave a comment

Login