The Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers Association is taking urgent action to tackle copper theft and other illegal activity in the scrap metal trade, warning that the problem is threatening critical infrastructure and the livelihoods of thousands of workers.

The president of the Trinidad and Tobago Scrap Iron Dealers Association Allan Ferguson says the association is adopting a proactive approach in the fight against copper theft, as repeated incidents continue to affect utilities, businesses and other critical infrastructure across the country.

“The problem most of us have by people breaking law is enforcement and things that we need to do. And I’m saying that we as an organization, we founded upon ourself to be police of our own industry. And we will pull a team together again to make sure that people follow the rules.”