2 Chinese nationals among 3 jailed in Dhaka smuggling case

A Dhaka court has sent three individuals, including two Chinese nationals, to jail in a case filed over the recovery of a large quantity of smuggled mobile phones, RAM and cash from a house in the capital’s Uttara.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Zakir Hossain passed the order today (27 April), according to court sources.

The accused are Chinese nationals Zhang Haibin, 50, Wang Guofeng, 52, and their interpreter, Md Delowar Hawlader, 25.

Earlier, the investigation officer of the case produced the accused before the court and sought a three-day remand.

According to the remand petition, acting on a tip-off, an operation was conducted on the afternoon of 26 April at a house on Road no 4 in Sector 3 under Uttara West Police Station. Three individuals were detained from a flat and questioned.

Based on their information, various brands of mobile phones, RAM and Tk50,000 in cash were seized from the house.

The accused failed to produce any valid documents for the goods. During initial interrogation, they admitted to smuggling the products into Bangladesh from China by evading customs duties and selling them in different markets in Dhaka.

The two Chinese nationals have long been involved in an organised smuggling syndicate, while the third accused worked as their interpreter, according to the petition.

The investigation officer said that further operations with the accused could lead to the recovery of additional smuggled goods and the arrest of other syndicate members, making their remand necessary for the proper conduct of the investigation.