GQEBERHA – A significant blow has been dealt to organised environmental crime and the illicit exploitation of South Africa’s marine resources. The Hawks’ Asset Forfeiture Investigation (AFI), working through the Priority Crime Specialised Investigation (PCSI) alongside the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Serious Organised Crime Investigation (SOCI) in Gqeberha, has marked a major milestone in the ongoing fight against these offences.
According to the Hawks spokesperson, Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana, an asset forfeiture order amounting to approximately R1.2 million was granted by the Gqeberha Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 23 June.
“In 2018, a breakthrough in the investigation was achieved when law-enforcement authorities executed an operation at a clandestine abalone-processing facility located on a farm outside Kariega,” he said. “During the operation, investigators seized 37,356 units of abalone with an estimated value of R5,258,300.”
Mhlakuvana added that this intervention not only disrupted the syndicate’s operations but also prevented a substantial quantity of illegally harvested marine resources from entering local and international illicit markets.
“The operation led to the arrest of several individuals directly involved in the processing activities, including foreign nationals who formed part of the syndicate’s operational network,” he said. “Further investigations uncovered a sophisticated and highly structured criminal enterprise involved in the unlawful harvesting, processing, transportation and commercialisation of abalone, in contravention of the Marine Living Resources Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).”
Mhlakuvana stated that the syndicate’s leadership coordinated the acquisition, processing and distribution of illegally harvested abalone, while other members facilitated logistics, transportation, financing, property acquisition and operational support.
“A Nissan Hardbody 2×4 motor vehicle, valued at R52,900, was identified as an instrumentality of crime after being used to transport illegally harvested abalone and processing equipment,” he said. “The AFI successfully obtained a preservation order, followed by a forfeiture order, resulting in the vehicle being permanently forfeited to the State.”
The Hawks’ statement also noted that further investigations revealed that the syndicate had invested proceeds of crime in immovable assets to disguise, conceal and preserve illicit wealth. “Search-and-seizure operations conducted at properties in the Kragga area and Sydenham uncovered assets directly linked to the proceeds of the criminal enterprise,” Mhlakuvana said.
He added, “Financial analysis established that the properties, with a combined value exceeding R1.8 million, had been acquired using funds generated through illegal abalone-poaching activities and were actioned.”
The successful conclusion of the matter, investigated under the Kabega Park and Swartkops policing precincts, culminated in a Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) payment of R1.2 million, which was received on 23 June.
Mhlakuvana noted that the criminal prosecution arising from the investigation resulted in substantial convictions and sentences against key members of the syndicate. “Syndicate leader Morne Blighnault was sentenced to 20 years’ direct imprisonment, while Marshelle Blighnault and Jacob Johannes Jacobus Naumann were each sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment.”
“Additional syndicate members received various custodial sentences, correctional supervision orders, community service directives, and financial penalties,” Mhlakuvana concluded.
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