Wa Fisheries Officers Locate Alleged Victorian Abalone Thief

Media Release

13 June 2008 33/2008



WA fisheries officers locate alleged Victorian abalone thief

A 40 year-old man is being extradited to Victoria this weekend to face serious fisheries charges,
after being located in Geraldton by Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Officers.

The WA Fisheries and Marine Officers worked with Western Australian Police to arrest the man
yesterday morning (Thursday 12 June 2008).

Geoffrey John Tait was taken into custody as a result of enquiries made by members of the
Department of Fisheries' Serious Offences Unit, following a request for assistance from the
Statewide Investigations Group of Victoria's Department of Primary Industries.

Victorian fisheries officers apprehended Tait and three other men on 8 March 2007 after
stopping a vehicle, in which it is alleged four large backpacks containing abalone were found.

A search of the backpacks revealed a total of 432 abalone meats that had been removed from
their shells.

It is also alleged the men had commercial abalone fishing equipment in their possession and that,
earlier that day, Victorian fisheries officers observed Tait and other men acting suspiciously, at
Wingan Inlet on Victoria's far east Gippsland coast.

A Victorian Magistrate's Court had issued a bench warrant for Tait's arrest, after he failed to
appear in court in June, last year, to answer a range of charges related to the alleged joint
possession of the abalone meat.

Department of Fisheries Regional Services Manager John Looby said the successful arrest and
extradition was a credit to the co-operation of Fisheries and Police authorities in the two states
and the skilled investigative work by officers in our Serious Offences Unit.

"After Geoffrey Tait was located in Geraldton, Victorian Police and Fisheries authorities were
advised and arrangements were put in place with WA Police for yesterday's arrest," Mr Looby
said.

"A number of the charges against Tait carry a maximum penalty of five years jail.

These are very serious matters and WA's Department of Fisheries has been happy to assist our
interstate counterparts to return Tait to Victoria, where he can face court over the outstanding
matters."

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