Pendang: Police have successfully dismantled the notorious ‘Dika Bayu’ gang, which is suspected of being involved in the theft of telecommunication substation cables. This achievement follows the arrest of seven men in their 20s in the Pendang district and Sungai Petani since July 10.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Pendang police chief Supt Rodzi Hassan revealed that the initial arrest occurred when three men were caught in the act of climbing and cutting cables at a substation near Pokok Tai, Bukit Jenun. Further investigations led police to a homestay in Taman Sinar Intan, Sungai Petani, where another suspect was apprehended after tools used for cable theft were discovered.

On July 13, two more individuals, believed to be part of the same gang, were detained along Jalan Aman Jaya in Sungai Petani. Another suspect, thought to be a ‘fencer’ who purchased processed copper from the gang, was also arrested. Supt Rodzi Hassan explained that the gang’s modus operandi involved renting boarding houses and using rented cars for their criminal activities, which were primarily driven by their drug habits.

Investigations revealed that the gang scouted substation locations using Google Maps and disguised themselves with safety vests and helmets to avoid suspicion from the public. All suspects have prior records related to theft and drugs, and urine tests confirmed the presence of amphetamine and methamphetamine.

The suspects are currently remanded for further investigation until July 19 under Section 379 of the Penal Code. Supt Rodzi expressed confidence that these arrests would resolve 22 cases of telecommunication substation cable theft in the district since January. The suspects also confessed to similar activities in the Sik, Yan, Alor Setar, Sungai Petani, and Penaga districts in Penang, with total estimated losses amounting to RM145,000.