Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested 14 foreigners for their alleged involvement in extortion and fraud using social media—including Facebook.
They were arrested in Bashundhara and Khilkhet, Dhaka, on Wednesday.
Earlier, RAB said they had arrested 15 people, but they subsequently corrected the misinformation.
RAB claims those arrested are an international gang of online fraudsters.
RAB 1 Commanding Officer (CO) Sarwar Bin Kashem confirmed the matter during a press briefing on Thursday.
“We recovered 29 mobile phones, two laptops, as well as Tk100,585 and $1,013 in cash,” Sarwar said.
The arrested are: Mukuye Michael and Patrick Mbazira from Uganda; Mloves Mnyigamba from Tanzania; George Matthew from Liberia; Sarmento Rebeca from Mozambique; Ilunga Chritian from Congo; Didi Nya from Cameroon; and Ezichukwa, Onqora Chukhnonse Benard, Olubowala, Promise Onyinycekukwu Igboakaba, Moses Nyegonu Amade, Domates, and Christiaw Enwuludoh from Nigeria.
None of them had legal documents for their stay in Bangladesh, and only some had expired visas, the RAB CO added.
Sarwar also said following primary interrogation, RAB found that the suspects came to Bangladesh to play football and for business purposes, but later became involved in cheating people using social media—including Facebook.
“We will take legal action against them,” he added.
