Members of abalone poaching syndicate due to appear in George Magistrate's Court
Authorities said that the syndicate had been mainly operating in the Western Cape and Gauteng.
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CAPE TOWN - Members of an abalone poaching syndicate are expected to appear in the George Magistrate's Court on Tuesday morning.
Hawks officers arrested seven suspects between the ages of 45 and 65 in the Cape Peninsula, Overberg and Hassequa areas on Monday.
Authorities said that the syndicate had been mainly operating in the Western Cape and Gauteng.
Last month, officers arrested a man linked to the same syndicate in Britz in the North West.
Jianxian Wu was then transported to George, where he appeared in the regional court.
Wu has been in custody pending a formal bail application on Tuesday.
He is expected to appear alongside his co-accused.
Hawks spokesperson, Zinzi Hani, said that since the start of this investigation in 2016, more than 25 tons of abalone were seized from the suspects, to an estimated value of over R37 million.
"As a result of this investigation, a total of 12 cases were registered with a combined total of 77 charges. The operation resulted in the successful arrest of all eight suspects, including the company who will appear in the George Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, 11 June 2024."