Millions of dollars worth of scrap metal believed to have been obtained illegally was confiscated by the police during a raid yesterday.

Personnel from the Agro-environmental Enforcement Unit of the Island Special Constabulary Force and the Customs Scrap Metal unit conducted a raid at a scrap metal yard where several bags containing copper pipe fittings, cable wires and grounding copper plates, were being prepared for export.

Special Sergeant Troy Irons of the Island Special Constabulary Force, told the THE STAR; "We went to a scrap metal yard in the Corporate Area to conduct an inspection of specified materials, aluminium, copper and brass."

proper explanation

During the inspection, the operator of the business was reportedly unable to give proper explanation about how he obtained several of the materials.

The police confiscated 300 bags of the pipe fittings, 21 grounding plates and an unspecified amount of cable wire. The material taken by the police are said to value millions of dollars.

"The owner was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of property and breaching customs regulation," Irons said.

The accused man is expected to appear in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on February 10.

In the meantime, the police are asking any organisation, including telecommunication providers, or persons who have lost these types of materials due to theft, to contact them at 938-2227.