A compliance operation by members of the Economic Infrastructure Task Team (EITT) in the eThekwini District has resulted in the arrests of five suspects and the recovery of 2.2 tons of copper cables at a scrap metal dealer in Phoenix on Monday afternoon, 5 December 2022.
The five suspects were on duty when the police arrived unannounced for a targeted compliance inspection operation.
A search at the premises led to the discovery of copper cables which were stashed in the back of a bakkie.
More copper cables were found concealed under a weighbridge in the premises.
A large quantity of the recovered copper cables belonged to Transnet, eThekwini Municipality and Telkom as positively identified by relevant officials who formed part of the inspection team.
The value of the recovered copper cables was estimated to be approximately R3 million. The bakkie which was found with copper cables was also seized.
The suspects, whose ages ranged between 23 and 40 years, are expected to appear in court soon on charges of Tempering with essential infrastructure as well as the contravention of Section 36 and Section 37 of the Criminal Matters Amendment Act, Act No. 18 of 2015.
