A 38-year-old Zimbabwean national was arrested in Kariega, on Monday, for the possession of protected cycads in contravention of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA).
Police said they acted on a tip-off from a local farmer that several suspects were seen removing cycads from a farm and carrying them towards the R75, approximately 15 to 20 kilometres outside Kariega.
Specialised police (STES) proceeded to arrest suspects, at around 23:30 that evening.
They spotted the suspects on the R75, near the area where the cycads had been moved during the day.
The Kariega K9 Unit and Visible Policing asked the suspects to pull over, but they fled into nearby bushes, instead.
Police recovered 151 protected cycads of various sizes with an estimated value of approximately R1.5 million, from the suspect’s car- Mazda BT-50 bakkie, valued at approximately R100 000.
The arrested suspect is expected to appear in the Kariega Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 2 July 2026.
Picture: SAPS newsroom