DB held foreigners over cyber fraud

The Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has busted an alleged cyber fraud syndicate involved in illegal VoIP operations and online gambling, arresting four suspects, including three foreign nationals, during a raid in the capital’s Bashundhara Residential Area.

The arrestees are Jharna Chakma Ziana, 27, Liu Hui Zhang, 46, Wei Yuji, 30, and She Yi Ran, 42.

Acting on intelligence, a team from the DB’s Cyber Crime Division conducted the raid late on Saturday and uncovered what investigators described as a technology-driven fraud operation running from a six-storey building. DMP Additional Commissioner and DB Chief Md Shafiqul Islam disclosed the details at a press briefing held on Sunday at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road in the capital.

During the raid, detectives seized 14 laptops, 16 smartphones, over 6,000 active SIM cards of various mobile operators and 20 GSM gateway devices allegedly used to facilitate illegal VoIP services. They also recovered 26 bottles of foreign liquor and Tk 209,700 in cash.

According to investigators, Jharna rented the entire building before subletting its fourth and fifth floors to the foreigners, who allegedly ran an organised online fraud and gambling network using advanced digital infrastructure.