The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit has arrested four people  including the alleged mastermind of a gang involved in stealing underground and overhead copper wires belonging to Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL).

The arrestees are Ibrahim, 30, Humayun Kabir, 49, Md Julhas, 30, and Md Babul, 35.

N M Nasiruddin, deputy commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) said members of the unit’s Special Action Group identified the suspects using CCTV footage and technological support while investigating a theft case filed with Kalabagan Police Station.

The four were arrested during a series of drives conducted in Hazaribagh and Mohammadpur areas from around 3pm to 8pm on Sunday.

Initial interrogation revealed that the accused were members of an organised theft ring.

They allegedly opened underground manholes late at night pretending to be BTCL workers or road repair staff before cutting and stealing valuable underground and overhead copper wires.

Police said the suspects also confessed to burning the plastic coating of the stolen wires to extract the copper, which was later sold to local scrap dealers.

The arrestees were sent to court, police said.