On 12 March 2022 at 03:20, police officers from Charlestown were patrolling the N11 in the Charlestown policing area. Whilst they were busy patrolling, they spotted a suspicious person at a Transnet tunnel in Amajuba.
The police went to investigate and they were joined by security officers. The suspect was seen cutting overhead rail cable from the line within the tunnel.
The suspect was placed under arrest for damaging and tampering with the essential infrastructure.
Further investigation led police to a taxi where eight more accomplices were arrested. Police seized stolen copper which weighed 180kg. The recovered copper is valued at R350 000-00.
The arrested suspects aged between 28 and 43 will also be profiled to check if they are linked to other similar cases that were reported in Charlestown and surrounding areas.
They are appearing before the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court on charges of tampering and damaging the essential infrastructure. The matter will be investigated by the Hawks.
