DB arrests 3 Chinese nationals with 363 iPhones, liquor

 
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested three Chinese nationals with 363 iPhones, foreign-made liquor and cash from Uttara and Khilkhet areas in the capital.

The arrestees were identified as Tan Jian, Wu Jun, and Dong Hongwei.

Mohiuddin Mahmud Sohel, Detective Branch deputy commissioner of Mirpur Division, disclosed the information during a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Thursday. 

He said acting on a tip off, a team of detectives conducted raids on January 7 in Uttara Sector-17 and Nikunja-1 separately.

During the raids, one Chinese national was arrested from Uttara along with 58 mobile phones sets whil two other Chinese nationals were detained from Nikunja-1 with 305 mobile phones.

DC Mohiuddin Mahmud Sohel also said preliminary investigation revealed that the gang illegally brought different iPhone parts into the country separately from abroad and set up a secret lab in Dhaka.

The parts were assembled there to produce fake mobile phones resembling iPhones which were later sold in the market as original devices.

The group had been carrying out the illegal operation for around one and a half years and was suspected of supplying a large number of counterfeit mobile phones during that period, he added.

Asked whether Bangladeshi people were involved in the syndicate, he said several names have emerged during the investigation but details could not be disclosed in the interest of probe.
 
The DB official urged people to remain cautious while purchasing mobile phones saying many buyers were falling victim to fraud due to the lure of low-priced 'original iPhones.'

He advised to purchasing mobile phones only from authorised and official showrooms or trusted sources.