Six Chinese nationals held over online fraud in Cox’s Bazar

Police arrested six Chinese nationals from a hotel in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday night over their alleged involvement in online gambling and fraud, recovering 1,938 iPhones, laptops and other communication devices.

The arrests were made during a raid at Hotel Sea Palace, said Additional Superintendent of Police of Cox’s Bazar Md Ahidur Rahman.

He said the raid was conducted based on information provided by Dhaka Metropolitan Police following a complaint filed with Ramu police station.

The police officer could not immediately provide the case number, identities of the accused or further details of the allegations. A case has been filed against the arrestees.

Some of the recovered devices appeared similar to equipment used by foreign law-enforcement agencies, said Ahidur.

Hotel authorities said a group of Chinese nationals had checked into the hotel on 26 August and several were detained during the raid.

A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that around 200 to 300 Chinese nationals, along with some Taiwanese nationals, had rented two hotels along Marine Drive and were allegedly involved in online gambling and fraud. However, police have not independently confirmed the claim.

Ramu police station Officer-In-Charge Muhammad Anwarul Hossain said the six Chinese nationals had been produced before a court and subsequently sent to Cox’s Bazar district jail.

“Our investigation is still underway. We will be able to provide further details after the investigation is completed,” he said.