Dhaka: The Cyber Police Centre (CPC) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested four members of an alleged online gambling and money laundering syndicate that used bank accounts and cryptocurrency platforms to transfer gambling proceeds abroad.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the arrestees were identified as Bablu Mia, 28, Md Monir Hossain, 30, of Sadar upazila in Tangail district, Nur Safayet Ifti, 24, and Shamim Al Mamun, 29, of Tangail. A team from the Cyber Personnel Management and Development unit of the CPC apprehended the four during raids at different locations in Tangail around 11 pm on Sunday, as per a CID press release.
During a preliminary investigation, it was found that the suspects supplied SIM cards registered in their names to agents of online gambling websites. The CPC detected, through regular cyber monitoring, that various online betting websites operated from both inside and outside the country were active recently, according to the case statement.
Advertisements for these gambling platforms were being circulated on social media and other online platforms, with bets placed on international cricket, football, and other sporting events, as well as online casinos. After collecting information on mobile financial service (MFS) and bank accounts used by agents of the betting sites, the CID filed a case with Paltan Police Station of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on May 17 under Sections 20(2), 21(2), 22(2), 24(2), 27(2), and 29(2) of the Cyber Security Act, 2026.
Following the filing of the case, CPC investigators, through information technology analysis and intelligence, discovered that the accused had been recruiting online betting agents across the country, collecting their MFS and bank account details for use on betting websites. The investigation also revealed that the agents deducted their commissions from gambling proceeds before allegedly laundering the money abroad via various bank accounts and cryptocurrency platforms.
The suspects reportedly collected agent SIM cards in exchange for money and provided them to administrators of the online gambling syndicate. During preliminary interrogation, they admitted that the agent SIM cards were used to deposit and withdraw funds on online betting websites, CID stated. The arrested suspects are currently being processed for production before a court.
The CPC is actively investigating the case, with ongoing efforts to identify and apprehend other members involved in the online gambling network, illegal e-transactions, and money laundering activities, according to the CID. Previously, CID teams had arrested several other alleged members of the same syndicate in separate raids.
The CID has urged the public to refrain from online gambling and betting activities and to avoid making financial transactions with individuals or groups in the name of online betting or gambling. Additionally, they requested people to inform law enforcement agencies if they have information regarding such illegal activities.