The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has commanded a joint law enforcement operation, which led to the arrest of three suspects involved in illegal abalone possession in the Eastern Cape. Three male suspects, aged 27, 28, and 32, were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, following a joint operation by the Gonubie SAPS, East London Dog Unit, and Green Scorpions. The operation was initiated after authorities received an intelligence about illegal diving activities at German Bay Beach. In a statement issued on Wednesday, police spokesperson, Captain Hazel Mqala said the members of the force conducted surveillance from 10pm on Tuesday, and at approximately 3:30am, spotted four males emerging from the sea carrying bags.