DURBAN Metro Police and its law enforcement partners retrieved 6kg of charred copper cables during an intelligence-driven operation in the Clairwood area on Monday (August 18).

Also read: Theft of copper cables linked to truck accidents

According to a Metro Police statement, the operation was carried out from 03:45 until 14:00 and involved specifically targeting illegal activity in connection with economic infrastructure crimes. The officers found and closed down an illegal scrapyard and apprehended one suspect.

Items recovered:

• 1 x eThekwini Municipality street light
• 6kg of burnt copper cables
• 1 x large industrial scale
• 1 x register book of transactions
• 1 x cellphone used for illegal transactions

The suspect faces numerous charges, including tampering with economic infrastructure, breaking criminal law in relation to Sections 36, 37 and 32, and dealing without registration as a second-hand dealer. The suspect is expected to appear in court soon.

“This operation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to safeguarding economic infrastructure, clamping down on illegal scrapyards, and protecting essential services for the residents of eThekwini,” said the statement.

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