Eight suspects including one company are expected to appear in the George Magistrates Court on Tuesday following their arrest in an eight-year-long investigation.
Spokesperson Warrant Officer Zinzi Hani says the first suspect, a Chinese National, was arrested in Britz in the North-West Province last month, while his co-accused were nabbed in the Garden Route and Cape Peninsula on Monday.
Jianxian Wu was transported to George to make his first appearance on 21 May 2024 and will appear with his co-accused on Tuesday in an attempt to get bail.
WO Hani says the criminal group has been under investigation since 2016 and mainly operates in the Western Cape and Gauteng.
Since the operation into the syndicate started, police have seized 25.3 tons of abalone with an estimated value of R37 million.
The suspects aged between 45 and 65 are facing a string of charges including the transportation and illegal storage of abalone, operating an illegal fish processing establishment, illegal exporting of abalone, money laundering and racketeering.
All suspects will appear in court to face a combined 77 charges out of 12 investigations.
