4 suspects to appear in court for being found in possession of abalone worth over R45k

Four suspects are expected to appear in court soon after being found with abalone worth more than R45,000 in the Tsitsikamma marine protected area, along the Otter Trail.

Last week, Sanparks responded to a tip-off about nearly 20 suspected poachers in the area.

In a joint operation with border police and the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, four suspects were arrested, including two undocumented foreign nationals.

Rangers also recovered 204 units of abalone, weighing nearly 30 kilograms.

SANParks spokesperson, JP Louw, said that two cases have been opened, one for illegal immigration and another for abalone possession.

"On 05 February 2026, teams tracked the suspects to an area where they had been residing in Covie. The suspects attempted to flee when approached. A thorough and intensified search followed, which led to the apprehension of four suspects.”