Authorities Net Illegal Abalone Gang

[DaveD]

It is not drugs or guns, but an illegal syndicate worth millions that has been broken open on the NSW South Coast, with one of the state's record abalone busts.

The owner of an Ashfield grocery store was caught with an illegal haul worth more than $26,000 stored in chest freezers in the western Sydney shop.

Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald said it was believed that the half tonne of abalone seizd was supplied by illegal abalone syndicates on the NSW South Coast.

Under NSW fishing laws, only authorised commercial fishers are allowed to catch and sell abalone. But the high profit that can be made from the sales - especially in overseas Asian markets - has sparked growth in illegal harvesting.

The 44-year-old Ashfield man allegedly had no licence, permit or authority to receive abalone and now faces court time and a fine of up to $22,000.

Abalone is worth $50 a kilo on the black market and about $100 on the retail market.

- The Daily Telegraph - 5 February 2008

[IWANNABROCK]

This is the second abalone case in past couple of month's. must be big buiseness.

http://fishraider.com.au/Invision/index.ph...&hl=abalone

found link.

Edited February 5, 2008 by IWANNAJEWY