Five of the six suspects aged between 25 and 55 arrested in Gonubie, East London on 14 October were foreign nationals, while one was a South African citizen. They were arrested by the Hawks in partnership with Gonubie SAPS, and other law enforcement agencies after a tip off. The suspects were caught red-handed in a certain residence being utilized for large-scale abalone processing. Upon arrival on the identified premises, the integrated law enforcement team discovered the suspects actively engaged in the processing of significant quantities of abalone within multiple rooms of the house.
According to the Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, the team seized desiccated 6049 units of abalone valued at approximately R1.8 million, cell phones, gas bottles, Humidifier, drying racks, gas cookers, three deep freezers, fans, pots and chemicals, which were confiscated for further investigation and evidential analysis. He revealed that the estimated street value of the abalone processing equipment was R500 000.
Meanwhile the suspects are expected to appear before East London Magistrate Court soon facing charges of illegal possession of abalone, operating a fish processing establishment without a permit and contravention of the Marine Living Resources Act.
