EASTERN CAPE – Today five suspected abalone poachers aged between 28 and 49 are expected to appear in the Gqeberha New Law Court for charges under Marine Living Resources Act of possession, transporting, keeping and running a fish processing establishment without permit.

It is alleged that on 28 July 2021, the Gqeberha Serious Organised Crime Investigation team of the Hawks, Dark Water Operations Anti-poaching Unit, Department of Forestry and Fishery as well as K9 Unit recovered a vehicle containing abalone in Kinkelbos area. One suspect was arrested on the scene.

Further investigation was conducted which led the police to a number of addresses in the Walmer policing area in Gqeberha where two bags of abalone were seized. Four foreign nationals including a female were arrested in those premises. A huge storage and a processing facility of abalone was discovered. Three vehicles including a white VW Caddy, Toyota Avanza and an Audi were confiscated. Fish processing apparatus and R7000 cash were also seized. The combined mass of seized abalone is 3200 kilograms with a street value of more than R6.1 million.

All five suspects are in custody and will appear in the Gqeberha New Law Court to set a date for a formal bail application.

Source: South African Police Service