A dope gang has been active around the Dhaka airport area over the last 15 years looting the valuables of new arrivals.
Nearly 300 expatriates have been robbed off by the gang members during this period, said Commander Al Moin, director of RAB legal and media wing while speaking at a press briefing, held at its Karwan Bazar media center on Sunday.
Earlier on Saturday, a team of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained four people including the kingpin of the gang syndicate from Airport and Kadamtoli areas of the capital.
The detainees were identified as Amir Hossain, 52, the ringleader of the gang and his three associates—Liton Mia Milton, 48, Abu Bakar Siddique alias Pervez, 35 and Zakir Hossain, 40.
The ringleader Amir Hossain was wanted in 15 different cases and the elite force also seized gold ornaments, mobile and some tablets to make people unconscious (sedatives) from his possession, said Commander Moin.
After primary interrogation, the detainees said that there are 8-10 members in the gang and they have been conducting their activities in guise of different professions.
“Being interrogated, Amir confessed that he was the ringleader of the dope gang. He is involved in the misdeed for the last 15 year and so far he has looted valuables of 300 people. He also worked at a restaurant in airport area,” said Moin.
He remained in prison in different times and now he is on bail.
“Firstly they targeted the returnees at Dhaka airport and in guise of passengers they used to wander in the airport areas with luggage on the pretext of misguiding people,” he said.
Recently on September 2, the gang targeted an expatriate in Kuwait, who was scheduled to go to his home village in Bogura.
When the man reached Azimpur bus Stand, a gang member followed him. Later, Amir Hossain in guise of a passenger offered him a bus ticket near his seat and tactfully made him his companion.
Later he provided some sedative-mixed biscuits to the expatriate and when he became unconscious Amir looted his valuables and got down from the bus, said Rab.
On September 6, a complaint was lodged with Uttara West Police.