Copper wire cables worth R210000 confiscated, 9 arrested

Smithfield SAPS received information of two vehicles transportating copper wire cables from Eastern Cape on Thursday, 14 October 2021 and

They established a mini road-block while other police vehicles patrolled the N6. After spotting the two described vehicles, they brought them to a standstill about three kilometres outside of Smithfield.

First vehicle, a white Toyota Fortune, with 5 occupants. One of them ran away into nearby bushes, but authorities chased and caught the others.

They found nothing illegal inside the Fortuner.

The second vehicle, a bronze Toyota Hilux Bakkie, about 500kg of copper wire cables were found. They are estimated to have street value of about R149 000. The driver could not account for the copper and was then detained.

In a similar incident, on the same Thursday morning, Trompsburg Highway patrol spotted a suspicious vehicle and decided to ‘stop and search’ it.

Upon searching the silver Hyundai Tucson, rolls of copper wire cables estimated to be worth R60 000 were found inside the vehicle.

The five occupants in the vehicle could not give a satisfactory answer where they got the copper.

A total of 9 suspects aged 22-39 were arrested and will be charged for possession of suspected stolen copper cables.