Vandalism of a telecommunications antenna in Matola causes damages of 700,000 meticais

Police have arrested a man in the city of Matola, Maputo province, accused of vandalizing and stealing equipment from a mobile phone operator. The crime, which is estimated to have caused losses of around 700,000 meticais, compromised the network's operation in the affected region.

The suspect was intercepted by authorities in possession of five industrial batteries, allegedly removed from a telecommunications antenna located in a peripheral area of ​​the city. The recovery of the material occurred during a police operation triggered by reports of repeated acts of sabotage against communication infrastructure in that region.

In his defense, the detainee denied direct involvement in the theft, claiming he was only called to assist in removing the equipment, without knowledge of the alleged illegality. Despite this version of events, police authorities indicated that there is evidence pointing to the individual's involvement in other similar crimes recently recorded in Matola.

The affected operator reported that the losses go beyond the commercial value of the stolen batteries. In addition to the five recovered devices, electrical cables, metal components, and part of the antenna support structure were destroyed, causing a temporary interruption of the network signal in the area. The service outage caused inconvenience for users, with disruptions in mobile communications and internet access.

Telecommunications industry experts warn that this type of vandalism has a double impact. On the one hand, it represents high costs for replacing materials and repairing infrastructure. On the other hand, it entails significant social and economic losses, affecting individuals, businesses, and public services that depend on connectivity.

Currently, investigations are ongoing with the aim of identifying other possible individuals involved in the scheme. According to the police, the logistical complexity required to remove and transport large batteries reinforces the suspicion of group activity.

The detainee will be brought before judicial authorities in the coming days for the legalization of the detention and the possible application of coercive measures. The police also appeal for the public's cooperation, encouraging the reporting of suspicious activities near critical infrastructure considered essential for the regular functioning of economic and social life in the country.