Dhaka:Four individuals, including a Chinese national, have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in smuggling medicines valued at approximately Tk 7.5 crore. These medicines, used to treat cancer and other serious conditions, were reportedly smuggled abroad.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the arrested individuals are Li Fen, a 34-year-old Chinese national; Bakul Nahar Bithi, 24; Yunus Ali, 26; and Sajib Hawlader, 28. The arrests were announced by SRB-3 Commanding Officer Lt Col Faizul Arefin during a press conference at the Shahjahanpur office in the capital.
The arrests followed a special operation conducted by the SRB team in the Uttara area of the city on Wednesday. They were accused of illegally exporting medicines, thereby evading government revenue. A significant quantity of medicines and Tk 6,06,140 were confiscated from the suspects.
This crackdown came after Laos customs seized a 100kg consignment of medicines on October 13, which was sent by courier without valid documentation. The group allegedly dispatched medicines used for cancer treatment to countries like Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, where these drugs reportedly command higher prices.
Li Fen, who arrived in Bangladesh in August 2024 on a 30-day tourist visa, frequently traveled back to China before his visa expired, only to return to Bangladesh shortly after on another tourist visa. Bithi, who studied business administration in China and learned the Chinese language, has been working as an interpreter for Chinese nationals since her return to Bangladesh.
Authorities are currently investigating the types and quantities of the seized medicines, as well as the involvement of courier services in the smuggling operation. Investigators also suspect that some pharmaceutical company employees might be implicated in the illegal trade for profit.