PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The 48 alleged abalone poachers who were recently nabbed near Plettenberg Bay, will remain behind bars until Thursday 30 January after the matter was postponed in the local magistrate's court on Monday.

The group, which hails from Gansbaai, appeared in the Plettenberg Bay Magistrate's Court on charges of illegal possession of abalone under the Marine Living Resources Act of 1998, but they were remanded in custody until Thursday to obtain legal representation.

The suspects were apprehended by South African National Parks (Sanparks) rangers between Keurbooms and Salt River near Plett last week Thursday.

Police spokesman Captain Malcolm Pojie said the suspects, between the ages of 22 and 55, were spotted on the shoreline near Keurbooms by vigilant park rangers and police officers from the Mossel Bay sea border unit.

"They approached the group who were in possession of diving equipment and bags. Upon searching the bags they found 142kg of abalone concealed in these bags. They subsequently arrested the 48 suspects and confiscated their diving equipment as well as the abalone," Pojie said.

"It is believed that the suspects are from Gansbaai. It is believed that they gained entrance to the park through a private property."

Investigation into this matter continues.

Diving gear confiscated during an abalone bust near Plettenberg Bay on 24 January, 2020. Photo: Supplied

Sanparks chief executive Fundisile Mketeni thanked the rangers, Cape Nature and the police for "a job well done".

"Our organisation is part of local policing forums in the Garden Route towns, as a result we are able to fight poaching as a collective," Mketeni said.

Western Cape provincial police management has also commended all those involved the bust. "The protection of our living marine resources is of utmost importance, especially to our economy. The illegal harvesting of these resources contributes largely to other lucrative organised crimes such as drugs," Pojie said.

He added the endeavour was part of the integrated approach by the police to eradicate the illegal and lucrative trade of abalone in the Western Cape and to break the back of smuggling syndicates. "This was an intelligence driven operation between Sanparks, police and other entities."

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