Bags of abalone, worth millions of rand, recovered during a search.
Three foreign nationals, aged between 28 and 45, have been arrested following a joint law enforcement operation that uncovered an illegal abalone processing facility at a lodge in Southwell, outside Bathurst.
The bust came after environmental inspectors noticed suspicious activity during routine checks.
According to police spokesperson Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, "Members of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment were conducting patrols in the Southwell area when they encountered a certain lodge where they suspected that criminal activities were taking place."
Inspectors called for reinforcement from the South African Police Service (SAPS) Highway Patrol, the Stock Theft Unit, and Bathurst Vispol.
