Detectives have arrested three Chinese nationals and a Bangladeshi woman for allegedly operating a sophisticated online fraud, illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and online gambling network from a rented building in the capital's Bashundhara Residential Area.
Speaking at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday, DB Chief Shafiqul Islam said the four suspects were arrested during a raid carried out by the Cyber Crime Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)'s Detective Branch (DB) in Bashundhara Residential Area on Saturday night.
The arrestees were identified as Jharna Chakma Ziana, 27, Liu Hui Zhang, 46, Wei Yuji, 30, and She Yi Ran, 42.
According to investigators, the suspects had set up their operation on the fourth and fifth floors of a six-storey building in Bashundhara, using advanced digital technology to conduct illegal VoIP activities, online gambling and cyber fraud.
During the raid, detectives seized 14 laptops, 16 smartphones, more than 6,000 SIM cards of various mobile operators, 20 SIM gateway devices, 26 bottles of foreign liquor and Tk 209,700 in cash.
DB officials said Jharna rented the entire building before subletting the fourth and fifth floors to the Chinese nationals, who allegedly used the premises as a base for their illegal operations.
According to the investigation, the syndicate targeted victims by sending text messages offering fake job opportunities, attractive promotional deals and easy income schemes. Recipients who clicked the embedded links were allegedly drawn into fraudulent online platforms and deceived into transferring money.
Police said the group employed sophisticated technology to evade detection, including SIM gateway devices that enabled a single mobile handset to operate up to 12 SIM cards simultaneously. The system made it difficult for investigators to immediately trace the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of the devices, even after victims lodged complaints.
DB officials alleged that the network defrauded members of the public of millions of taka, which was subsequently laundered abroad through the organised cybercrime operation.
Legal proceedings against the four accused are underway.
