The copper was seized during an operation in City Deep.
The South African Police Service (SAPS), working alongside other law enforcement agencies, said it dealt a significant blow to transnational organised smuggling syndicates following the seizure of suspected stolen copper worth more than R12 million at City Deep in Johannesburg.
A multidisciplinary team comprising Gauteng Crime Intelligence, Interpol, Border Police, City Deep and private security partners conducted an intelligence-driven operation that led to the discovery and seizure of a large consignment of suspected stolen copper.
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Vincent Mukhathi, said the operation followed intelligence received from the Zambian authorities regarding the hijacking of three trucks transporting copper blocks.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that trucks displaying false Tanzanian registration plates were allegedly used in the commission of the crime. One of the trucks was later recovered in Zambia, where investigators discovered that it was displaying registration numbers belonging to a South African logistics company.
