MANILA — Police arrested two Thai nationals on Thursday for allegedly possessing a suspected International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catcher, along with firearms and a grenade, in Muntinlupa City. 

Capt. Paul John Mencio Jr., assistant chief of the District Special Operations Unit of the Southern Police District, said authorities were alerted after a rent-a-car driver, whom the suspects had hired to drive around Metro Manila, reported their suspicious behavior and possession of weapons.

“Upon roving around dito sa Metro Manila, napansin niya daw po na may mga firearms. At the same time, may nakita siyang equipment na bago sa kanyang paningin,” Mencio told ABS-CBN News.

(While driving them around Metro Manila, he noticed they had firearms. At the same time, he saw a piece of equipment that was unfamiliar to him.)

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Authorities conducted an operation along Biazon Road, Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa City, where they intercepted the suspects.

A search of the vehicle revealed what appeared to be surveillance equipment, including a large system unit suspected to be an IMSI catcher, a power supply unit, a router, and a drone. 

The seized devices have been turned over to the Southern District Anti-Cybercrime Team for digital forensic examination to determine whether they were being used for illegal activities such as espionage or unauthorized data collection.

What is an IMSI catcher?

An IMSI catcher is a surveillance device that mimics a cell tower to intercept mobile phone signals. It can capture International IMSI numbers, track locations, and, in some cases, eavesdrop on calls and messages. 

These devices are commonly used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies for surveillance but can also be exploited for illegal spying.

THAIS DENY BEING SPIES

Although the suspects could not speak English fluently, they insisted they were not spies and requested legal assistance from Thailand.

“No spy, no spy,” one of them told ABS-CBN News. “We want a Thai lawyer.”

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Authorities are initially considering filing a complaint against the foreigners for violating the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) gun ban, while further verification of the seized evidence is ongoing.

“As of now, tinitingnan pa natin kung ano pa ‘yong mga angles o mga nalabag nilang batas. For verification pa ‘yong firearms nila,” Mencio said.

(As of now, we are still looking into other possible angles or any laws they may have violated. Their firearms are still under verification.)

Police are also coordinating with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) regarding the confiscated suspected IMSI catcher.

The two Thai nationals remain in the custody of the Southern Police District headquarters.