CID arrests 3 over online gambling-linked money laundering network
During the investigation, CID found that an organised network operating both in Bangladesh and abroad had long been running online betting and gambling websites under different names.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police yesterday (22 May) arrested three alleged members of a syndicate involved in laundering money abroad through online gambling platforms.
The arrestees are Md Ala Uddin, 42, Shahadat Hossain, 32, and Md Sahab Uddin, 48.
Confirming the matter today, CID Special Superintendent of Police (Media) Jasim Uddin Khan said a team from the Cyber Investigation and Operations Division conducted drives in different areas of Chattogram and arrested them.
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During the operations, officers seized five mobile phones allegedly used in online gambling and illegal financial transactions, along with ATM cards and cheque books from various banks.
Jasim said the CID's Cyber Monitoring Cell under the Cyber Police Centre had detected several syndicates operating illegal online gambling sites in Bangladesh during routine digital surveillance. The gamblers were using mobile financial services (MFS) such as bKash, Rocket and Nagad, as well as bank accounts and crypto wallets for transactions.
Following the findings, the CID filed a case with Paltan Police Station in the capital on 16 November last year.
During the investigation, CID found that an organised network operating both in Bangladesh and abroad had long been running online betting and gambling websites under different names, he said. The syndicate regularly promoted the gambling sites on social media and various online platforms.
According to Jasim, to participate in the betting sites, users were required to deposit money through MFS accounts, bank accounts and cryptocurrencies. In return, e-money or "bot money" was added to users' betting accounts for use in online gambling activities.
He further said the syndicate frequently changed their MFS agent numbers and bank accounts to evade detection. They recruited local agents across different parts of the country to collect such accounts and numbers, which were later shared with the main gambling site operators via Telegram and other secure communication platforms.
According to the CID official, the suspects initially confessed their involvement in online betting and illegal financial transactions during interrogation. Preparations are underway to produce them before a court, where the CID will seek a remand order for further interrogation.
