FREE STATE – A Bloemfontein truck driver was arrested for transporting stolen copper cable after an intelligence-led operation by the Bloemfontein Flying Squad intercepted a heavy vehicle on the N1 highway. The bust prevented the illicit movement of critical infrastructure materials and recovered cargo valued at more than R300,000.
Acting on specific intelligence regarding a vehicle moving illicit copper from Bloemfontein toward Johannesburg, law enforcement tracked a white Volvo STRALIS 430 truck towing two trailers. During the early hours of Saturday, 25 July 2026, officers pulled the rig over in the north-bound lane, stopping it behind a filling station located within the Glen Police Station precinct.
Upon initiating a preliminary search, investigators immediately contacted a supervisor from the Engineering Wires section of Centlec (SOC) Ltd’s low voltage division. The official positively identified portions of the bagged copper cable as stolen Centlec property, leading to the immediate arrest of the 43-year-old male driver.
Following his detention, the suspect claimed his journey originated in Wadeville, Germiston, and that his intended destination was Gemini Scrap Metal on Watkey Street in Oranjesig, where he purportedly meant to collect legitimate recyclable cargo.
The vehicle and its contents were subsequently escorted to the Bainsvlei Police Station grounds for comprehensive processing. There, specialized technicians from both Telkom and Eskom examined the haul, identifying additional stolen cables and confirming the total estimated value of the seized infrastructure at over R300,000.
Authorities at the Glen Police Station have officially opened a docket. The suspect faces charges of possession of presumably stolen property, alongside tampering, damaging, or destroying essential infrastructure under the Criminal Matters Amendment Act 18 of 2015. He is slated to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in the near future.
