Two suspects arrested in R4m abalone bust to appear in court
The Hawks say the two foreign nationals were processing abalone inside the premises when a team of detectives arrived on the scene.
Abalone worth R1.5 million that was seized by police in Durbanville on 3 June 2024. Picture: X/SAPoliceService
JOHANNESBURG - Two suspects arrested for having more than R4 million worth of abalone in Gqeberha will appear in court on Monday.
They were arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (popularly known as the Hawks) team on Thursday.
The arrests followed a tip-off about an illegal plant operating at Neave township.
The Hawks say the two foreign nationals were processing abalone inside the premises when a team of detectives arrived on the scene.
Some of the confiscated items at the plant include 13 industrial fans used to dry the abalone, three cell phones, eight gas tanks and a fridge.
Hawks Spokesperson Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana thanked the team for uncovering the clandestine abalone plant and the arrest of the suspects for contravention of the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998.