Play store
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested an alleged agent of several online gambling sites as part of its ongoing crackdown on online betting and illicit money laundering.
The arrestee was identified as Snigdha Sikdar, 31.
According to the CID, money collected through online gambling was used to pay agents’ commissions, while the remaining funds were allegedly laundered abroad through various bank accounts and cryptocurrency platforms.
Snigdha was arrested during a raid in the Benapole land port area of Jashore around 5am on September 30.
CID Police Superintendent (Media) Md Sufi Ullah disclosed the information on Thursday.
He said the CID detected the activities of several online betting and gambling sites operated from both Bangladesh and abroad during routine cyber monitoring. The sites were being promoted through social media and other online platforms, with transactions linked to international cricket, football and other sports, as well as online casinos.
Investigators found that agents had been recruited in different parts of the country to collect gambling money through mobile financial service (MFS) accounts and bank accounts, the CID official said.
After paying commissions to the agents, the remaining funds were allegedly transferred abroad through bank accounts and cryptocurrency platforms, he added.
Sufi Ullah said Suman Roy, 28, who was previously arrested in the case, allegedly worked as one of the key coordinators of the Bangladesh operations of an international online betting and illegal gambling network.
Suman allegedly controlled deposits and withdrawals of gambling funds and was also responsible for customer support for newly launched gambling sites, according to the CID.
Suman later gave a statement before a court, naming Snigdha Sikdar. Following further investigation and the collection of evidence linking Snigdha to the network, the CID arrested him.
The CID urged people to stay away from online gambling and betting and refrain from making financial transactions with individuals or groups involved in such activities. It also requested the public to report information about online gambling operations to law enforcement agencies.