Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn-13) has arrested the alleged mastermind of a dope gang, Md Tajul Islam, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Saturday night.
According to APBn, the victim, Arafat Hossain, had gone to the airport to see off his cousin. After completing the farewell at the departure area, he was offered coffee by Tajul Islam. Shortly afterwards, he became unconscious.
Following the incident, a team led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Faujul Kabir Moin of APBn-13 conducted a raid at “Hotel Royal” in the Darus Salam area of Mirpur. During the operation, police recovered 55 mobile phones of different models, 10 pairs of earbuds, 15 wristwatches, four sedative tablets, two packets of sedative substances, Tk 2,23,000 in cash, 53.50 Saudi riyals, one Turkish lira, and other stolen items.
A case was later filed on Sunday at Airport Police Station under Dhaka Metropolitan Police by victim Arafat Hossain against Tajul Islam.
During interrogation, Tajul reportedly admitted that his gang targeted individuals at bus terminals and railway stations by befriending them. The gang would then mix sedative drugs into tea, coffee or soft drinks to render victims unconscious before stealing their belongings. He also confessed that gang members sometimes posed as physically disabled or ill persons to avoid suspicion.
Based on his statement, investigators believe he led a four-to five-member gang that stored stolen goods at an apartment hotel in the Darus Salam area of Mirpur.
APBn-13 Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Anita Rani Sutradhar said the force remains active in preventing “dope gangs,” smuggling and other crimes at the airport. She added that operations will continue to curb such criminal activities in the airport area.