A 40-year-old man appeared in the Strand Magistrates’ Court for the illegal possession for abalone after he was arrested by Lwandle police on Saturday 17 September. Lwandle police were on patrol at 22:00 when they were alerted to a house where abalone was apparently stored. The officers pounced on the address and a search led to the discovery of 1 544 abalone with an estimated value of R5 million. The 40-year-old suspect was arrested for the illegal possession of abalone. He was scheduled to appear in the Strand Magistrates’ Court once charged.