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Five people were remanded in custody after appearing in a Gqeberha court on Monday for being in the possession of more than 3000 kilograms of abalone valued at an estimated R6.1 million.
Hawks Eastern Cape spokesperson, Yolisa Mgolodela, said they were charged under the Marine Living Resources Act, following the arrest of the first suspect last Wednesday.
She says further investigations led to Walmer in Gqeberha where four foreign nationals, including a woman, were arrested.
Mgolodela says police seized 3 200 kilograms of abalone, cash and several vehicles.
The five will be back in the dock on the 10th of this month for a bail hearing.
