Man confesses: sold copper cable for $15K to buy drugs

$1.6M theft at BJ Demerara River Bridge

…scrap metal dealer in custody

Hours after the Guyana Police Force launched an investigation into a $1.6 million copper cable theft at the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, detectives swooped down on a house in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, which led to the arrest of a scrap metal dealer who allegedly purchased the stolen cables.
The 52-year-old businessman, who operates out of lot 93 Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, was detained following the arrest and confession of 39-year-old Roy Morgan on Wednesday evening on the bridge with cutting equipment.

At the time, he was wearing a safety helmet and a reflective vest, thus giving the impression that he was a worker at the bridge.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, when contacted, confirmed that after his arrest, the 39-year-old man admitted to stealing and selling the copper cable for $15,000 to purchase food and drugs.
This was confirmed by the businessman, who admitted that he had indeed purchased 30 pounds of copper from the suspect but could not recall the description and, moreover, made no attempt to find out where he had acquired it.
However, a search of his Sussex Street bond, according to Blanhum, did not yield any success, but detectives proceeded to his home in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, where they conducted a search that resulted in the discovery of two pieces of copper wire similar to the copper that is missing from the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge.
The scrap metal dealer has since been arrested.
It was reported that some 90 feet of 4/350 KCMIL copper cable, valued at approximately $1.6 million, were stolen from the Bharrat Jagdeo Demerara River Bridge, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
The theft reportedly occurred sometime between 00:00h on August 23, 2026, and 09:00h on September 1, 2026.
The bridge is equipped with LED lights attached to steel poles along its high span and powered by a generator beneath the bridge. The lights are used to display various colours and according to the Police, were last operated on August 23, 2026.
However, at about 18:30h on August 31, 2026, an electrical maintenance engineer attempted to illuminate the bridge in the colours of Trinidad and Tobago’s national flag in observance of that country’s Independence Anniversary, but only the lights on the northern side were functioning.
The engineer and his team inspected the southern side of the bridge the following day when it was discovered that the copper cables had been cut and removed from the metal trunking box.
As such, the matter was reported to the Providence Police Station, which led to a full-scale investigation. Both the scrap metal dealer and the seller remain in custody pending investigations.