Nine men aged between 26 and 46 have been arrested after police uncovered suspected stolen copper cables valued at approximately R600,000 during an intelligence-driven operation in the Eastern Cape.
According to police, officers received information on Friday, 19 June 2026, about an Isuzu bakkie carrying a suspicious heavy load while travelling from Ku Gompo to Gqeberha. Further intelligence revealed that the vehicle had broken down along the R72 near Kenton-on-Sea.
A multi-disciplinary team comprising the Port Alfred Crime Intelligence Unit, K9 Unit, Crime Prevention Unit, Detectives Branch and Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit acted swiftly on the information and traced the bakkie parked alongside the R72. Two additional vehicles were found accompanying the suspicious vehicle.
During a search of the Isuzu bakkie, police discovered 1,619.18 kilograms of copper cables concealed beneath a mattress at the back of the vehicle. The recovered copper is estimated to be worth R600,000.
Police also found equipment commonly used in copper theft inside one of the accompanying vehicles. All three vehicles were seized for further investigation, while 11 cellphones recovered from the vehicles were also confiscated.
The nine occupants of the three vehicles were arrested and charged with possession of suspected stolen property.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Kenton-on-Sea Magistrate’s Court soon as investigations continue.
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