A multidisciplinary law enforcement operation led to the arrest of seven suspects believed to be part of a syndicate targeting underground copper cables in Newcastle, KZN.

Newcastle Advertiser reports that Imraan Ghafoor from the Newcastle Fighters Task Team (CCPA) says ‘Operation Tunnel Buster’ was the result of several weeks of intelligence gathering by a co-ordinated team.

“Law enforcement had been monitoring a group of skilled criminals who were allegedly responsible for stealing copper from critical infrastructure using underground tunnels,” he says.

On Saturday, intelligence confirmed that a group of suspects from Gauteng had joined forces with their local accomplices and were preparing to strike.

Officers continued to keep surveillance throughout the night, and at dawn yesterday morning, just as the suspects attempted to flee the scene, operational teams sprang into action, tactfully intercepting two vehicles.

Ninety kilograms of copper was seized during the raid. A Toyota Hilux single-cab bakkie, a Volkswagen T-Cross, copper-cutting equipment and other incriminating items were also confiscated.

“All seven suspects were detained on the scene. Investigations are ongoing, with several leads being followed to link the suspects to additional reported cases of copper cable theft,” says Ghafoor.

The team included the SAPS Newcastle Stabilisation Team, SAPS Newcastle K9 Unit, SAPS KZN Crime Intelligence, the CCPA, Amajuba District, Crime Fighters Task Team, Ithemba Security and CPI Investigations.

The team was thanked ‘for their precision and dedication and commended for their tireless efforts in protecting the town’s infrastructure from continued criminal activities’.

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