Dhaka: Detectives have arrested four people, including three Chinese nationals, during a drive in the capital’s Bashundhara residential area on charges of operating an online fraud network using an illegal SIM gateway. The arrestees were identified as Jharna Chakma alias Jiana, 27, Liu Hui Zhang, 46, Wei Yuji, 30, and She Yi Ran, 42.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) reported that the group had been conducting fraudulent activities through online gambling websites from a rented apartment, utilizing approximately 6,000 SIM cards in their operations. Briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre, Additional Commissioner (DB) Mohammad Shafiqul Islam stated that a DB Cyber Crime team executed the raid at around 8pm on Saturday, following secret information.
The apartment, rented by ethnic community member Jharna Chakma, was part of a six-storey building largely occupied by Chinese nationals. Jharna resided on the ground floor while the upper floors were tenanted by the other suspects. During the operation, detectives discovered equipment allegedly used for online gateway operations, online gambling, and other fraudulent activities.
The police seized 14 laptops, 16 mobile phones, about 6,000 SIM cards from various mobile operators, 20 gateway machines, foreign liquor, and Tk 209,700 in cash. Shafiqul Islam explained that the suspects used promotional messages offering jobs, discounts, or extra income to lure victims into clicking fraudulent links. They employed the SIM gateway system to facilitate their operations, recovering around 6,000 SIM cards and SIM slots with the capacity to accommodate approximately 10,000 to 12,000 SIMs. A single mobile phone was configured to operate with 12 SIM cards for the fraudulent activities.
The DB official noted that the group altered the IMEI numbers of devices through technological means, making them difficult to trace. The network reportedly laundered between Tk 200 crore and Tk 250 crore each month through online gambling and other illegal means. Shafiqul Islam highlighted that numerous Chinese nationals were conducting similar activities in Bangladesh under the guise of different Chinese companies.
He urged the public to remain cautious and avoid falling prey to fraudulent offers on online platforms, as such scams were financially devastating many victims. A regular case has been filed against the arrestees, he added.