Joint forces have detained 344 people during coordinated block raids in four areas of Dhaka as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking, extortion, criminal activities and the activities of juvenile gangs.
The four-hour operation began at 9pm on Tuesday, 13 October, in Mohammadpur, Pallabi, Adabor and Gandaria. During the raids, law enforcement personnel recovered a foreign-made pistol, a single-shot gun, several locally made weapons, ammunition and a large quantity of drugs.
According to police, the operation involved hundreds of personnel from different law enforcement units, including the police, Detective Branch (DB), Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), SRB, Armed Police Battalion (APBn) and a dog squad. The teams conducted searches across the four police station areas, targeting suspected criminal activities and looking for illegal weapons and narcotics.
Pallabi accounted for the highest number of detentions, with 202 people held during the operation. Police detained another 59 people in Mohammadpur, 45 in Adabor and 38 in Gandaria, bringing the total to 344.
Authorities have not provided a detailed breakdown of the quantity of drugs, ammunition and other weapons recovered. However, police said the seized items were part of the operation to tackle criminal activities in the capital.
Crackdown on Juvenile Gangs to Continue
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Mosleh Uddin Ahmed said the authorities were determined to eliminate the activities of juvenile gangs in Mohammadpur and Pallabi. He expressed confidence that such groups would no longer be allowed to operate in those areas.
He also indicated that special operations would continue in the coming days as part of broader efforts to maintain law and order and prevent criminal activities.
The latest raids come amid continuing concerns over drug-related offences, extortion, violence and the activities of juvenile gangs in parts of the capital. Coordinated operations involving multiple law enforcement units are intended to strengthen policing in areas identified as vulnerable to such crimes.
Legal Action After Verification
Police said the identities and backgrounds of those detained were being checked. Individuals facing specific criminal cases would be sent to court for further legal proceedings.
Other detainees would face action through mobile courts where applicable under the law, according to the police. The authorities have not disclosed the individual allegations against all 344 people or confirmed how many would ultimately face formal charges.
Detention during an operation does not, by itself, establish that a person has committed an offence. Further verification and legal proceedings will determine whether individual suspects are linked to criminal activities or the weapons and drugs recovered during the raids.
Police said special operations would continue as part of efforts to control crime and improve public safety across Dhaka. The effectiveness of the crackdown will depend not only on arrests and seizures but also on follow-up investigations and sustained action against organised criminal networks.
