(Bandar Seri Begawan, 24th) In an ongoing effort to curb the growing number of cable theft incidents, a joint taskforce led by the Royal Brunei Police Force's Criminal Investigation Department recently launched 'Ops Besi' in collaboration with several law enforcement agencies.
This joint operation involved officers and personnel from the Royal Brunei Police Force, including the Criminal Investigation Department, Brunei-Muara Police District, as well as enforcement personnel from the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation, Department of Town and Country Planning, Immigration and National Registration Department, and Labour Department, together inspecting a recycling company located in the Kampong Junjungan area.
The inspection found that the company was involved in multiple labor violations under the Employment Order (Chapter 278), including issues concerning foreign workers under the company’s supervision.
At the same time, authorities also found that the company violated the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 248) by conducting commercial activities and erecting building structures without approval from planning authorities.
In addition, the company was found to have issues related to business premise sanitation, as well as unauthorized use of land for storing scrap metal and other violations.
The authorities stated that this joint operation aims to serve as one of the measures to address domestic cable theft issues while ensuring that recycling companies comply with all relevant conditions set by respective agencies, so as to operate recycling businesses in an orderly and clean manner.
The authorities remind all recycling companies not to accept scrap metal, especially copper and iron, indiscriminately, and to take reasonable measures to verify the source before purchase to ensure the materials have not been stolen.
At the same time, recyclers are urged to obtain written approval from the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation before commencing operations in order to avoid violating relevant laws.
The police also advise recycling companies that if they discover any individuals selling suspicious quantities of scrap metal and suspect the materials may be stolen, they should immediately provide information to the police by calling the 993 hotline.
The inspection found that the company was involved in multiple labor violations under the Employment Order (Chapter 278), including issues concerning foreign workers under the company’s supervision.
At the same time, authorities also found that the company violated the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act (Chapter 248) by conducting commercial activities and erecting building structures without approval from planning authorities.
In addition, the company was found to have issues related to business premise sanitation, as well as unauthorized use of land for storing scrap metal and other violations.
The authorities stated that this joint operation aims to serve as one of the measures to address domestic cable theft issues while ensuring that recycling companies comply with all relevant conditions set by respective agencies, so as to operate recycling businesses in an orderly and clean manner.
The authorities remind all recycling companies not to accept scrap metal, especially copper and iron, indiscriminately, and to take reasonable measures to verify the source before purchase to ensure the materials have not been stolen.
At the same time, recyclers are urged to obtain written approval from the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation before commencing operations in order to avoid violating relevant laws.
The police also advise recycling companies that if they discover any individuals selling suspicious quantities of scrap metal and suspect the materials may be stolen, they should immediately provide information to the police by calling the 993 hotline.