In an intensive 24-hour sweep across the capital, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have arrested 465 individuals and initiated 73 formal cases. The broad-spectrum operation, detailed in an official press release on Wednesday, forms part of an escalated drive aimed at curbing narcotics distribution, illegal firearms, and violent street crime across the city.

Law enforcement personnel deployed coordinated patrols, targeted raids, and intelligence-led stop-and-search operations throughout Dhaka’s various police divisions. Officers recovered an assortment of weaponry during the operation, including a foreign-made pistol, two magazines, eight rounds of live ammunition, four knives, and a heavy-duty steel cutter.

The drive also yielded notable seizures on the narcotics front, where officers confiscated 2,484 Yaba tablets—a potent combination of methamphetamine and caffeine—alongside 2.36 kilograms of cannabis. These contraband items were retrieved during targeted sweeps designed to dismantle local drug distribution networks.

An breakdown of detentions across the metropolis reveals significant variation in criminal activity and operational focus by sector:

• Mirpur Division: 114 arrests

• Motijheel Division: 75 arrests

• Tejgaon Division: 60 arrests

• Wari Division: 59 arrests

• Lalbagh Division: 55 arrests

• Uttara Division: 42 arrests

• Gulshan Division: 29 arrests

• Ramna Division: 21 arrests

• Detective Branch (DB): 10 arrests

The heavy concentration of arrests in Mirpur and Motijheel highlights ongoing law enforcement focus on densely populated hubs and transit zones long associated with petty theft and illicit drug trade. Meanwhile, operations conducted by the specialized Detective Branch focused primarily on high-profile targets and organized criminal groups.

Metropolitan police drives of this scale serve a dual purpose: disrupting active criminal cells and deterring opportunistic offenses in high-density areas. Senior DMP officials confirmed that formal legal proceedings are currently under way against all 465 suspects. The detainees face prosecution under the Arms Act and the Narcotics Control Act, with formal filings proceeding through local precinct stations before judicial presentation in court. DMP authorities reiterated that special operations and routine patrols will remain active across all divisions to preserve public order.