Cape Town - The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) said it would focus on disrupting local and international poaching this year. This comes after Cape Town metro police arrested a suspect for allegedly poaching 250 kilogrammes of abalone in Hout Bay last week. The bust has put a spotlight on poaching in the country. DFFE Minister Dion George commended the City of Cape Town's metro police for retrieving the poached abalone last Thursday. George said he would be making an extra effort to target poachers this year. "It is not only abalone that is the target of poaching it is also rhino horn and pangolin, and I will be engaging with those nations that are the main recipients of the poached goods." George said he aimed to dismantle poaching syndicates operating in South Africa. "And also I will be focusing my attention on disrupting local and international poaching syndicates that are robbing our country of our natural assets." George said he would take all steps necessary to root out the scourge of poaching.