The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detained 482 people during a 24-hour sweeping security operation across various neighbourhoods of the capital. Alongside these detentions, law enforcement authorities filed 32 formal cases as part of an intensified drive to curb urban crime, disrupt drug trafficking networks, and maintain public order.
The widespread crackdown targeted multiple crime hotspots across the metropolis. According to an official media release issued by the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division on Saturday, 22 August, officers executed targeted raids based on intelligence regarding suspicious movements and criminal activities.
Police divisions across the city reported varying numbers of detentions. The Mirpur division recorded the highest figure with 119 arrests. Other jurisdictions also reported significant numbers, including 59 individuals detained in the Uttara division and 57 in the Motijheel division. The Tejgaon division accounted for 56 arrests, while the Wari division recorded 55. Officers in the Ramna and Lalbagh divisions each detained 44 people, followed by 39 arrests in the Gulshan division and 9 by the Detective Branch.
The raids yielded substantial quantities of illicit narcotics and suspected stolen goods. Officers recovered 13,914 pieces of yaba tablets, 913 grams of heroin, and 32 kilograms of cannabis. Beyond narcotics, the police confiscated 16,000 taka in counterfeit currency, a gold locket, nine mobile phones, three laptops, two central processing units, two tablet computers, and 55 SIM cards. A cash sum of 268,500 taka was also seized during the operations.
Investigators noted that the recovery of multiple electronic devices and a large volume of SIM cards could point to organised fraud or cyber-related offences, though specific links between the seized gadgets and individual cases remain under investigation.
Law enforcement agencies in Dhaka routinely conduct targeted operations to tackle persistent challenges such as narcotics trading, mugging, theft, and petty crime. These routine sweeps aim to deter criminal syndicates and enhance neighbourhood safety.
Legal proceedings against all 482 arrested individuals are currently underway. The suspects will face charges under relevant legislation, including the narcotics control acts, depending on the specific evidence recovered in each case. Police authorities stated that formal investigations and due legal processes will determine the culpability of those detained.
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