Mbabane Municipality and REPS target 12 scrap yards in major copper theft operation

MBABANE — In a robust display of multi-agency law enforcement and urban governance, the Municipal Council of Mbabane, working in close collaboration with the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) and the Eswatini Environment Authority (EEA), has raided nearly 12 scrap yards across the capital city to clamp down on escalating copper theft and illegal trading.

The high-impact joint operation targeted scrap-metal operators to stem the damaging tide of public infrastructure vandalism. Over recent months, residents and municipal teams have raised serious concerns over the brazen theft of critical infrastructure, including water valves, meters, copper wiring, and household components that directly threaten public safety and service delivery.

During the inspections, law enforcement authorities confiscated illicit copper materials found on several premises, noting that the traded items violated strict regulations governing scrap handling and infrastructure protection. Simultaneously, environmental regulators assessed operators for full legal compliance regarding waste management and business licensing.

The Critical Importance of Compliance

Highlighting the operation, authorities emphasized that strict regulatory compliance is non-negotiable for businesses operating within Mbabane. Scrap-yard operators are legally bound to verify the provenance of all metal, maintain rigorous registers, and refrain from purchasing state or municipal infrastructure components.

When businesses flout compliance standards, they inadvertently provide a lucrative black market for criminals, crippling essential services like water and electricity supply to homes and businesses. Compliance is not merely a bureaucratic checkbox—it is the vital safeguard that preserves public assets, protects community security, and ensures a lawful, orderly local economy.

The Municipal Council of Mbabane and its partners—led by the steadfast intervention of REPS and the EEA—reiterate that this coordinated oversight is ongoing. Authorities will continue to heavily scrutinize the scrap-metal sector to ensure that illegally obtained materials are blocked from entering the market, warning that non-compliant operators will face the full might of the law.

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