Detective Branch of Police arrested 31 members of eight dope gangs from different parts in Dhaka yesterday.
The detectives also seized huge amount of sedatives, flasks meant for serving tea, pickles, biscuits and Tk50,000 in cash from their possession, said sources in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
During the drives, separate mobile courts led by executive magistrates Abdul Kuddus and Sarwar Alam sent the arrestees to jail on different terms, they said.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said the arrestees were involved in looting valuables from the people in the capital.
The gang members had different tasks in the looting process. Some of them used to bring the area under their watch, while some others were responsible for mixing the drugs in the foods served to the persons whom they used to make their targets, he said.
In the primary interrogation, the arrestees confessed to their involvement in the crime, he added.
According to the DB sources, the gang members used to set up makeshift shops like tea stalls, cigarette stalls or soft drinks stalls in different areas, including railway station, bus station or footpaths.
After finding their targets, they used to mix dope drugs with tea, banana, or other food items served to the targeted persons, they said.
Later, they used to loot the victims’ belongings, including cash taka, laptops, mobiles, gold chains, as the victims become fainted after taking the foods or drinks, they added.
During the recent Eid, two people were killed after falling victim to the members of the dope gangs.
In the yesterday’s drives, the DB officials at first arrested one Mizanur Rahman, owner of Gausia Pharmacy, from Fakirapul area, the DB sources said.
In the primary interrogation, Mizan confessed to his involvement in supplying sedatives to many dope gangs in the capital, they said.
On the basis of the information provided by Mizan, the DB conducted drives in different areas, including Fakirapul, Gulistan, Kalshi of Mirpur, Kamlapur, Mohakhali and Uttara, they added.
Of the arrestees six members of Shariful group were arrested from Fakirapul, five members of Jahid group from Gulistan, six members of Sumon group from Airport intersection, four members of Mamun group from Kalshi of Mirpur, four members of Jalil Bepari from Kamlapur and five members of Maola group from Mohakhali bus stand.
Most of the arrestees were held earlier by the law enforcers for several times. But they got involved in the same crime after getting release.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam said Jalil was arrested for 11 times, Mizanur for three times, Maola for seven times, Oli for three times, Shariful for three times, and Jahid for two times before their yesterday’s arrest.
The arrestees are: Mizanur Rahman Pintu,42, Jalil Bepari, 55, Rashid,42, Babu, 32, Kamruzzaman,25, Jahid,22, Niamul Hauqe, Khokon Mia, 23, Moslem Molla,35, Alom, 22, Mizanur,42, Sariful,48, Sanowar,35, Rezaul,40, Osman Goni,25, Lal Mia, 45, Gias Uddin,25, Mamun,40, Shahid Ahammed, 26,Ferdous, 25, Abu Taher, 28, Moksed Molla, 40, Sumon, 23, Babu, 18, Abdul Kader, 40, another Sumon,25, Maola Sarder, 28, Md Oli, 18, Aminul Islam, 25, Joni, 19, Shaon Ahmed, 18.
