The Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team joined forces with the Tactical Response Team, the K9 Unit and the Local Criminal Record Centre in Bloemfontein to fight abalone poaching.
All parties involved went on an intelligence-driven sting operation which resulted in the arrest of six suspected abalone poachers between the ages of 20 and 40 on December 21. This is the third consecutive poaching incident in the last three months.
This is also the second poaching incident to occur within the past three days.
READ: Three suspected abalone poachers apprehended in Cape Town
The joint team raided the location of the suspects and uncovered dry and wet abalone, all to be an estimated value of more than R7 million, according to the South African Police Service.
The six suspects are expected to appear in court soon.
Picture: Getaway Gallery
ALSO READ
South African authorities arrest two men for abalone poaching
