Eighteen suspects were arrested in Nakhon Sawan Province while disguised as a team to tunnel underground and illegally cut cables, causing damages valued at over 20 million baht. Authorities are swiftly expanding investigations to capture the financiers, believed to be leading a large nationwide operation.
At 01:00 on 18 June 2026, police from Mueang Nakhon Sawan Station raided and arrested a daring gang working as a coordinated "team," dressed in matching outfits, while cutting underground copper telephone cables belonging to the National Telecom Public Company Limited (NT). Eighteen suspects were arrested simultaneously.
This operation was conducted under the direction of Pol. Maj. Gen. Narewit Sukonthawit, Commander of Nakhon Sawan Provincial Police, alongside deputy commanders and Pol. Col. Poomropee Phalaphum, Superintendent of Mueang Nakhon Sawan Station. They ordered an investigative unit led by Pol. Lt. Col. Pornchai Khunpileukludech, Deputy Chief of Investigation, to pursue the criminals who were disrupting public utilities.
During the swift interception, officers arrested all 18 suspects involved, who acted as part of a large organized group wearing team uniforms to deceive and coordinate their actions systematically. Additionally, authorities seized five vehicles used in the offenses.
Preliminary findings indicate the gang chose late-night hours to tunnel underground conduits to steal copper cables for resale. However, their actions were detected and swiftly halted by the alert investigative team at Mueang Nakhon Sawan Station, who traced and apprehended them on site. Investigations are ongoing to identify the financiers behind the crimes.
Police at Mueang Nakhon Sawan Station are currently detaining all suspects for intensive interrogation and are accelerating investigations to identify the masterminds or financiers purchasing stolen goods. Following questioning, the suspects were handed over to Pol. Lt. Col. Seksan Sukkasem, Chief Investigator of Mueang Nakhon Sawan Station, who prepared charges for nighttime theft involving a vehicle.
Later, Mr. Suchets Chuenchomchat, a level 6 technician at NT, visited Mueang Nakhon Sawan Station to inspect the company's stolen property. He told reporters that the group operates as a large, long-standing nationwide network. In Nakhon Sawan Province alone, damages total about 17 million baht, excluding previous losses, with the combined damage exceeding 20 million baht.