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The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has seized 30 kilogrammes of illegal shisha, allegedly imported from Hong Kong under the cover of spice consignments, and arrested three people, including the alleged importer and suppliers.
The seizure followed a two-month intelligence operation in the capital.
An undercover DNC official posed as a buyer and placed an order for five kilogrammes of shisha to identify the people involved and trace the supply network.
The operation was carried out on Wednesday night and Thursday morning in Dhaka’s Bangshal and Uttara areas by the DNC’s Dhaka divisional intelligence team.
Acting on the order, investigators first raided a business establishment named AS SUNNAH on North South Road in Bangshal and detained Mohammad Solaiman Ahmed, also known as Shuvo, 31.
They subsequently recovered 30 kilogrammes of Al Fakher-branded shisha packed in three cartons from the premises.
During preliminary questioning, Solaiman reportedly told investigators that he had collected the consignment from Mohammad Shakil Ahmed, owner of Saba and Rihan Enterprise in Uttara East.
Following this information, DNC officials raided the enterprise in Uttara on Thursday morning and arrested Shakil. They also seized documents related to the supply of shisha.
Later, acting on Shakil’s information, the investigators raided Trust Global Trading in Uttara Sector 11 and arrested its owner, Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, 46.
According to the DNC, preliminary questioning revealed that Mehedi had been importing shisha from Hong Kong through an agent and supplying it to Shakil. The latter then distributed the products to Solaiman.
Investigators also found evidence of transactions and financial dealings involving another individual, identified as Salman Nibir, 26, through an examination of the arrested suspects’ mobile phones and other information. Efforts are underway to arrest him.
The DNC is investigating how the shisha was brought into Bangladesh disguised as spice consignments.
Officials are also examining whether customs duties and VAT were properly paid and whether illegal products were imported using documentation for legitimate goods.
A case has been filed against the three arrested individuals under the Narcotics Control Act with Bangshal Police Station.
Investigators are working to identify and apprehend other members of the alleged smuggling network.