Police bust abalone racket worth nearly R2 million on Douglas farm

IN A TARGETED operation against the illegal marine trade, the Northern Cape police swooped on a farmhouse near Douglas in the early hours of Saturday morning, uncovering a massive stash of abalone valued at close to R2 million.

According to Northern Cape police spokesperson Colonel Cherelle Ehlers, the early-morning raid, led by the Provincial Organised Crime Investigations Unit, followed a tip-off about suspicious activity at the rural property. 

Officers conducted a search and discovered several containers packed with abalone, a highly prized delicacy that is frequently smuggled and sold on the black market.

Five suspects – three Chinese nationals and two Malawian nationals, aged between 18 and 60 – were arrested at the scene. Authorities have confirmed that the Department of Home Affairs is now involved in verifying the immigration status of those detained.

The seized haul, estimated to be worth around R1.97 million on the black market, represents a significant blow to illicit marine trafficking operations. In addition to the illegal stockpile, police confiscated two vehicles, a Toyota Hilux and a Nissan NP200, believed to have been used in the commission of the crime.

Officials from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment were called in to assess and confirm the value of the confiscated abalone, bolstering the case against the five suspects.

Colonel Ehlers said the investigation is ongoing. 

Meanwhile, the acting Northern Cape provincial commissioner, Major-General Luntu Ngubelanga, praised the team for their “exceptional work”. 

He emphasised that the Northern Cape police will maintain a tough stance against marine-related crimes, warning that those who plunder natural resources will face serious consequences.