DNC seizes Bangladesh's largest-ever shisha haul, three arrested

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has seized the largest-ever single consignment of shisha in Bangladesh's history, arresting three members of an organised online trafficking syndicate, including two brothers accused of running a nationwide Facebook-based drug distribution network.

The coordinated operation, conducted in Gulshan, Bhatara, Malibagh and Kalachandpur in Dhaka on 2 July, led to the recovery of 65.9 kilograms of shisha, 41 hookahs, 40 kilograms of hookah charcoal, five mobile phones and other digital evidence, the DNC said on Thursday.

Facebook-based network dismantled

According to the DNC, intelligence officials had been monitoring a Facebook page allegedly operated by twin brothers Ahmed Sharifi (34) and Mehdad Sharifi (34), who are accused of selling and delivering shisha and hookah accessories across Bangladesh through online orders.

Investigators said the syndicate accepted orders via social media and dispatched consignments nationwide using courier services.

Acting on intelligence, a DNC special team led by Deputy Director Md Mehedi Hasan first intercepted two courier parcels containing one kilogram of shisha each in Bashundhara Residential Area and Malibagh.

The investigation then led officers to a rented flat in Kalachandpur, where the two brothers were arrested.

A search of the apartment resulted in the seizure of an additional 45.9kg of shisha and 20 hookahs.

Based on information provided during initial interrogation, DNC officers later raided another rented flat in Noorerchala under Bhatara Police Station, arresting Maksud Alam (40).

Officials recovered 18kg of shisha and 21 hookahs from his residence.

With the latest seizures, the DNC said the total haul reached 65.9kg of shisha, making it the largest quantity of the tobacco product ever seized in a single anti-narcotics operation in Bangladesh.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the two brothers had previously lived in Iran, where they allegedly gained experience in the shisha trade before returning to Bangladesh to establish a similar business model.

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According to investigators, they gradually expanded their online operation across multiple districts by promoting products on Facebook, communicating with customers through social media, accepting orders online and delivering products through domestic courier services.

Digital payments and financial investigation

The DNC said the syndicate primarily received payments through mobile financial services (MFS) using multiple accounts registered under different names to conceal the identities of the beneficiaries.

Digital forensic experts are now analysing financial transactions, mobile accounts and money trails to identify other members of the network.

Investigators also recovered a substantial customer database from seized mobile phones, digital devices and online accounts.

The data reportedly include customer identities, contact records, order histories and transaction details involving buyers from Dhaka and several other districts.

The DNC said it is analysing the information to identify regular customers, distributors, associates and other members of the alleged online trafficking network.

Officials said preliminary digital evidence also suggests the suspects may have been involved in other illegal online activities in addition to selling shisha.

The DNC said investigations are ongoing to verify the evidence, identify additional suspects and take legal action where necessary.

Reaffirming the government's zero-tolerance policy against narcotics, the department said it has intensified cyber surveillance, financial intelligence analysis and inter-agency operations to counter drug traffickers increasingly using social media, e-commerce platforms, courier services and mobile financial services to conduct illegal business.