CID Busts Online Gambling Ring

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested five members of an organized network allegedly involved in operating online betting and gambling websites, processing gambling funds through mobile financial services (MFS) and bank accounts, and transferring the proceeds abroad after converting them into cryptocurrency.

CID Special Superintendent of Police (Media) Jasim Uddin Khan disclosed the information on Thursday, August 13.

The arrestees are Rafiqul Islam, 46; Md. Sohel, 37; Md. Shafiqul Islam, 27; Md. Rubel Mollayya, 33; and Ayub Hossain Ripon, 48.

Jasim Uddin Khan said an organized group had been operating various online betting and gambling websites under different names for a long time. A special team of the CID Cyber Police Centre arrested the five during raids in different areas of Narsingdi district on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The team seized nine mobile phones, 20 SIM cards and cheque books of different banks, along with other important evidence, during the operation.

According to the CID official, recent online monitoring and preliminary investigations revealed the activities of an organized network operating both inside and outside Bangladesh. The group had allegedly been running online betting and gambling websites under different names for an extended period.

The websites offered betting and gambling on international cricket, football and other sporting events in exchange for money. The group also promoted and advertised the gambling platforms through social media and other online platforms.

Users were required to make an initial top-up or deposit to participate. The websites instructed users to deposit money through Bangladeshi mobile financial services, including bKash, Nagad, Rocket and Upay, as well as bank accounts and cryptocurrency.

Once a deposit was made, an equivalent amount of e-money or “bot money” was credited to the user's betting account for use in online betting or gambling.

The investigation also found that MFS agent numbers and bank account numbers were used for depositing and withdrawing money from the betting websites. These numbers were periodically changed. The network allegedly recruited agents in different parts of Bangladesh to collect MFS numbers and bank account details.

The collected information was then reportedly supplied to the operators of the betting websites through Telegram and other social media platforms. The accounts and numbers were subsequently used to process online gambling transactions from different parts of the country.

Jasim Uddin Khan said the agents collected and consolidated money obtained through illegal e-transactions from different locations. After retaining commissions, the remaining funds were transferred through various bank accounts.

The network allegedly converted the funds into cryptocurrency and subsequently transferred the money abroad.

The CID filed a case with Paltan Model Police Station in the capital as the complainant. During interrogation, the arrestees reportedly provided information about their involvement with the network operating online betting and gambling platforms, the CID official said.

//DBTech/JNO/SME//