SAPS INTERCEPTS MULTI-MILLION RAND TRANSNATIONAL COPPER SMUGGLING RING IN JOHANNESBURG
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR, KASiBC_AFRiCA
PRETORIA — A major blow has been dealt to transnational organized crime networks after a multidisciplinary task force intercepted and seized suspected stolen copper worth an estimated R12.68 million at City Deep in Johannesburg.
The high-stakes recovery followed key cross-border operational intelligence provided by Zambian authorities, exposing a sophisticated logistical hijacking and smuggling network operating across Southern Africa.
Cross-Border Hijackings and Fraudulent Documentation
The investigation began following reports from Zambia that three cargo trucks transporting valuable copper blocks had been violently hijacked.
Cloned Registrations: The hijackers initially used false Tanzanian license plates.
One truck was later abandoned and recovered inside Zambia displaying the cloned plates of a legitimate South African logistics company. Border Infiltration: On June 10, 2026, two remaining trucks slipped through the Beitbridge Border Post carrying approximately 121 tonnes of copper slabs by utilizing fraudulent customs and clearing documentation.
Tampering: Once inside South Africa, the syndicates deliberately filed off the original factory serial numbers from the copper blocks to mask their origins from domestic buyers.
The Raid at City Deep
Acting swiftly on the actionable intelligence, a coordinated team—comprising Gauteng Crime Intelligence, Interpol, the City Deep Border Police unit, and private security tracking partners—staged a follow-up raid on June 18, 2026.
The operation successfully uncovered and seized 26 massive bundles of copper slabs valued precisely at R12,680,000.
Current Investigative Status: No suspects have been arrested at this stage.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed they are actively pursuing all local and international logistical leads to identify and apprehend the masterminds behind the syndicate.
Published by Chanon Lecodey Merricks Online Editor KASiBC AFRiCA
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