The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested seven members of an organised online gambling network, seizing a substantial cache of evidence including 484 SIM cards registered to mobile financial services bKash and Nagad.
The DMP disclosed the details of the operation in a press release issued on Tuesday.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Sagar Shikdar, 32, Amal Kirtania Ovi, 30, Mithun Sarker, 24, Sunil Mridha, 25, Kazi Usrat Anjuman Megha, 20, Marufa, 21, and Md Rakibul Hasan, 32.
Officials from the DB Cyber and Special Crime (South) Division stated that the network was uncovered during routine cyber monitoring, which flagged several illegal online gambling websites and mobile applications.
Upon analysing the platforms, investigators discovered that MFS agent, merchant, and personal accounts were being systematically used to process gambling transactions and facilitate money laundering. Tracing these financial trails led officers to an organised criminal group managing the operational backend.
DB officers executed a targeted raid in the Jashore Kotwali area at approximately 1:00 am on Monday, using tech-led intelligence tracking to apprehend six members of the network. Following interrogations at the scene, police tracked down the alleged mastermind, Sagar Shikdar, arresting him in Kalkini, Madaripur, at around 4:00 am the same night.
During the joint operations, police recovered 484 SIM cards active with MFS accounts, 46 smartphones, one feature phone, eight laptops, 27 bank cards, three ledgers, and two private vehicles.
Preliminary findings by the DB indicate that the primary function of the gang was to supply active MFS wallets to overseas and local gambling websites, ensuring uninterrupted payment processing for users.
A case has been formally registered against the suspects under the Gambling Prevention Act at Ramna Police Station, and all seven individuals have been remanded to court.
