JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested 18 individuals, including nine foreigners, involved in stealing copper telecommunications cables worth a total of RM800,000.

Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the group dubbed Geng Kabel Mat Lee has been stealing copper cables since May this year.

The initial arrest was made on July 18 between 3am and 6am by a team of police from the Seri Alam District when they stopped a lorry.

"We arrested 13 suspects, including nine foreign men, aged between 25 and 47.

"Also arrested was a man who owns a scrap metal shop whom we believed bought the cables stolen by the group.

"During the arrest, the group pretended to be repairing cables when they were actually stealing them," he said during a press conference at the Johor police headquarters here on Monday (July 24).

He said the group would choose isolated areas before digging up areas where cables are buried.

"They have the complete set of tools to pretend to be doing repairs, including the 'road closed' signs and blinking lights.

"A follow-up investigation led to the arrest of five more men aged between 24 and 42, all owners of scrap metal shops.

"All failed to provide a convincing reason why they were in possession of telecommunications cables," he said, adding that the copper cable was sold at RM35 per kg.

"We also believe that some in the group have prior working experience dealing with the cables due to their 'expertise' in stealing them," he added.

All of the suspects are currently under remand until July 25.

The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft.