The three poachers arrested on Sunday morning were linked to the illegal harvesting of abalone and diving gear was confiscated.

Police said a gas explosion uncovered abalone worth over R1 million rand at a drying facility in Motherwell on Friday night.

Police arrested a 31-year-old man with 387 abalones in his possession on the R72 road between East London and Port Alfred.

A 45-year-old man was arrested by the Hawks on Tuesday for the possession of abalone worth millions in Edgemead, Cape Town.

All confiscated goods were booked in with the South African Police Service and a case of poaching has been opened.

A joint team uncovered an illegal abalone drying facility at Willow Creek in Brackenfell, Cape Town.

The court found that abalone poacher Solomon Sauls had been working in cahoots with nine officials from the department.

Violent protests erupted this week after five men were arrested for poaching abalone. Vehicles were stoned and bystanders injured.

Illegal abalone processing facility in Grabouw raided by police and conservation officials. Two people are in custody.