The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested four individuals, including three Chinese nationals, following a raid in Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area for their alleged involvement in online fraud.
According to the DB, the syndicate operated out of a building rented by Jharna Chakma Jiana, a Bangladeshi tribal woman, to conduct online gambling and various fraudulent activities through websites, laundering an estimated Tk200 to Tk250 crore abroad every month.
The details were disclosed by Additional Commissioner of Police (Detective) Md Shafiqul Islam during a press conference titled “Four arrested including foreign nationals on charges of online fraud,” held at DMP Media Centre on Sunday.
The arrestees have been identified as Jharna Chakma Jiana, 27, Liu Hui Zhang, 46, Wei Yuzi, 30, and She Yi Ran, 42.
Acting on a tip-off, a team from DB Cyber Crime Division conducted the raid on a six-storey building in Bashundhara on Saturday night.
Law enforcement officials seized 14 laptops, 16 smartphones, more than 6,000 active SIM cards from various mobile operators, 20 GSM gateway devices, 26 bottles of foreign liquor, and Tk2,09,700 in cash during the operation.
During the press briefing, Shafiqul Islam explained that Jiana had rented the entire building, residing on the ground floor while subletting the remaining floors to the Chinese nationals.
They allegedly used the fourth and fifth floors for online gambling, illegal VoIP operations, and other fraudulent activities. The syndicate targeted the public by sending mobile links promising jobs, special offers, or extra income.
Once a victim clicked the link and made a payment, the fraudsters used gateway devices and thousands of active SIMs to collect the money. The raid uncovered approximately 6,000 active SIM cards and equipment with 10,000 to 12,000 SIM-capable slots.
The DB official further said that the group used devices capable of operating 12 SIMs simultaneously.
They employed technical tactics to change the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of their devices, making detection exceptionally difficult. Authorities believe the arrests have prevented the laundering of approximately Tk200 to Tk250 crore over the coming month.
Warning the public, the official said many foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens, are operating such fraudulent schemes under the guise of legitimate organisations. He urged citizens to remain cautious before responding to lucrative offers of employment or income on online platforms.
Regular cases have been filed against the arrested individuals, and legal proceedings are currently underway.
