An off-duty police officer has arrested four alleged abalone poachers in Port Alfred.
The Eastern Cape police officer received a tip-off about suspected poachers in the Kasouga area on Tuesday afternoon, police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said.
"The officer, who was on a rest day, immediately responded and proceeded to Kasouga Beach, where he conducted a foot patrol. He noticed tracks going from the sea towards the dunes, which he followed. The tracks led him into the dense sea bush, where he found five males sitting around a campfire," Govender said.
The officer noticed diving suits hanging in the trees. A total of 68 abalone shells were found in five bags. He also found one R5 assault rifle bullet in one of the diving bags. The abalone and ammunition were seized and four people arrested.
The value of the abalone is around R13 000, Govender said.
"The suspects - all males from East London aged between 22 and 32 - will appear in the Port Alfred Magistrate's Court later this week," Govender added.
They will face charges of the possession of abalone and the possession of unlicensed ammunition.
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