63 Foreign Nationals Arrested in Chattogram

Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) have arrested 63 members of an international online fraud network during a joint operation by its Counter Terrorism Unit and Khulshi Police Station in the Khulshi area of Chattogram. All those arrested are foreign nationals, including citizens of China, Pakistan, Laos, Nepal and Vietnam. Police also seized a large number of electronic devices and equipment allegedly used for online fraud and other digital crimes.

At a press conference at the CMP Media Centre at Dampara Police Lines on Friday, September 11, Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Muhammad Faisal Ahmed disclosed the details.

He said a specialised team of the CMP Counter Terrorism Unit, with assistance from Khulshi Police Station, conducted the operation at a building on Road 4 of the Jalalabad Krishnachura Residential Area at around 3:50pm on Thursday following confidential information.

Police said the suspects had rented the house about one and a half months earlier. The house belongs to a Bangladeshi expatriate living in Dubai. The group had allegedly been operating organised online fraud activities from the rented premises.

According to the additional police commissioner, the group members had been staying in rented houses in different parts of Bangladesh for an extended period. They allegedly used various digital platforms and websites to conduct online fraud and other criminal activities. They also used various technological devices to operate their activities.

Police said the network had several Bangladeshi and foreign associates who allegedly helped the group conduct organised criminal activities safely and without disruption in Bangladesh. During preliminary questioning, police obtained information about several unidentified associates who are believed to be staying in Chattogram and other parts of the country. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest them.

The press briefing said the arrested individuals and their associates allegedly worked together using information technology to commit financial fraud and forgery and illegally embezzle money. They were also accused of conducting various criminal activities through electronic transactions outside legal authority.

Police seized 134 used mobile phones of different brands during the operation. They also recovered one used Apple tablet, 57 laptops of different brands, one white CPU, one black Samsung monitor, one keyboard, one mouse and one black printer.

In addition, police recovered five pen drives of different brands and four SIM cards from different companies. The operation also resulted in the recovery of three Pakistani national identity cards and one Cambodian employment card.

Police said the large number of mobile phones, laptops and other devices were allegedly used to operate the network’s online criminal activities. Analysis of the seized devices may provide further information about the group’s activities, its local and foreign associates and the methods used in the alleged fraud.

Legal proceedings against the arrested individuals are underway at Khulshi Police Station. The investigation is also continuing to identify and arrest other associates linked to the network.

Additional Police Commissioner Muhammad Faisal Ahmed said, “The activities of an organised group of foreign nationals staying in Bangladesh and using online platforms to commit crimes such as fraud and financial forgery are being investigated seriously. The group’s international links and financial transactions will also be brought under investigation.”
//DBTech/BTO/SME/MIST//