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Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detectives have arrested four people, including three Chinese nationals, in connection with an alleged illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) business and online fraud operation.
The suspects were detained during a raid in the Bashundhara Residential Area of the capital on Saturday night, where authorities also seized nearly 10,000 active SIM cards, a large quantity of technological equipment, foreign liquor, and cash.
The details of the operation were presented at a press briefing on Sunday at the DMP Media Center on Minto Road by Additional Commissioner of Police (Detective Branch), Shafiqul Islam.
According to the Detective Branch (DB), the suspects were operating an illegal VoIP network as well as online gambling and fraud activities using advanced technology.
Police said a Cyber Crime Unit of the DB conducted the raid based on confidential information at the fourth and fifth floors of a six-story building in Bashundhara.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Jharna Chakma Jiana (27) and three Chinese nationals: Liu Hui Zhang (46), Wei Yuji (30), and She Yi Ran (42).
During the raid, detectives recovered 14 laptops, 16 smartphones, 20 GSM gateway devices, 26 bottles of foreign liquor, Tk 209,700 in cash, and approximately 10,000 active SIM cards. Police said around 4,000 of the seized SIM cards belonged to Banglalink.
According to investigators, Jharna Chakma had rented the entire building and sublet two floors to the Chinese nationals. From those premises, they allegedly operated illegal VoIP services and online gambling activities using sophisticated technology.
Police said the group targeted members of the public by sending SMS messages promising work-from-home income opportunities, jobs, or special promotional offers. Victims who clicked on the links embedded in the messages were allegedly lured into online fraud schemes.
To evade detection by law enforcement, the suspects reportedly used devices equipped with external multi-SIM adapters capable of operating up to 12 SIM cards simultaneously. This made it difficult for investigators to quickly identify the devices’ IMEI numbers, even when victims reported the fraudulent activity.