Massive perlemoen bust on N1

Johannesburg - A man was arrested on the N1 between Ventersburg and Winburg with one ton of perlemoen (abalone), with an estimated worth of R1m, Free State police said.

Warrant Officer Malebo Khosana said the 36-year-old man was arrested on Sunday around 08.30 when the Welkom Flying Squad received information that the car, heading to Johannesburg, was transporting abalone.

"When they were on the road doing highway patrols, [the officers] noticed a white Isuzu bakkie that has just passed them fitting the description of the one they were tipped about," said Khosana.

"They made a U-turn and managed to stop it. The driver who was travelling alone was detained after his vehicle was searched and one ton of abalone was found in the motor vehicle."

The man was driving from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg.

He was expected to appear in the Ventersburg Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges of possession of abalone.