According to police, the suspects, aged 20 and 35, had been involved in a string of cases involving stolen telecommunication cables worth some RM100,000 for the past one year.

Papar police chief Batholomew Umpit said police manning a roadblock on Wednesday had told the suspects to stop for an inspection.

But instead of slowing down, the men charged through the roadblock and escaped during the 10.30pm incident.

Police then tracked the suspects down to a petrol station at Jalan Kimanis-Keningau at 4.40pm the following day.

“The suspects are believed to be involved in at least 10 cases of stolen telecommunication cables,” Batholomew said today.

“Both men tested positive after a drug test and were also found to have been involved in other crimes.”

He said police also seized the car used by the suspects to crash through the roadblock.