Two brothers, Nurul Huq, Noor Mohammad, their father Ezhar Mian and five nephews - a team of eight persons built a yaba syndicate in Teknaf, sending the drug all over the country.
The traders are now wealthy, possessing crores, stashed in different bank accounts. Police have found evidence of large monetary transactions of the syndicate, using Mobile Financial Services (bKash and Rocket) and then arrested five of the family based drug dealing group.
CID found the syndicate when they went to investigate a Narayanganj based narcotics case in April 2017.
The syndicate had a nationwide network, receiving money through mobile banking channels.
Special superintendent of CID, Mollah Nazrul Islam, said: “a money laundering case has been lodged against the syndicate and we are trying to identify the sub-groups.”
Nurul Huq, a resident of Teknaf, began the trade in 2008 and, in 2013, involved his father, Ezhar Mian, his brother, Nur Mohammad and his five nephews. A few other relatives are also involved in the trade.
The syndicate members used to collect money from all over the country by opening accounts in Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank and Islami Bank.
Money from yaba trade also came via bKash and Rocket transactions.
Through the Bangladesh Bank Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) officials came to know of a large amount of transactions in the name of main mastermind of the operation, Nurul Huda.
In eight accounts of four banks, Tk. 4 crore 63 lakh 39 thousand was deposited in the name of two brothers and the father in six years.
Assessing the account information, CID officials came to know that the money was deposited from Dhaka and areas around the capital, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Narsingdi.
A money laundering case was lodged against the syndicate on August 29 of 2017. At this time, the two brothers and several of their accomplices were arrested. The case report states that all the accused earned their livelihood as labourers six years ago and led affluent lives from the proceeds of the yaba trade.
Investigating officer of the case, senior assistant police superintendent, Nazimuddin, says: “this is a massive network and so far, we arrested 22 persons and of them, six made confessional statements at court.”
Efforts are underway to apprehend the rest, he assured.