Over 500 Arrested as DMP Launches Vast Capital Anti-Crime Sweep

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have conducted a massive, city-wide crackdown over a 24-hour window, resulting in the arrest of 508 suspects. The synchronised operations, designed to disrupt local narcotics networks and curb urban crime, led to the formal filing of 50 criminal cases across multiple police stations in the capital.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Niaz Mehedi, representing the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division, disclosed the official metrics of the operation. He stated that the extensive raids were executed by combined teams from the metropolitan crime divisions and the Detective Branch, aiming to systematically dismantle unlawful syndicates operating within the metropolis.

Divisional Distribution of Apprehensions

The anti-crime initiative spanned all major sectors of the capital, with law enforcement personnel targeting specific zones based on actionable intelligence. The total number of detainees across the eight specialised police divisions is detailed below:

• Uttara Sector: 137 suspects detained

• Mirpur Sector: 95 suspects detained

• Tejgaon Sector: 68 suspects detained

• Gulshan Sector: 53 suspects detained

• Ramna Sector: 52 suspects detained

• Motijheel Sector: 48 suspects detained

• Wari Sector: 32 suspects detained

• Lalbagh Sector: 23 suspects detained

The high concentration of arrests in the northern gateways of Uttara and Mirpur highlights the police department’s prioritisation of transit corridors and rapidly expanding residential sectors, which frequently serve as focal points for illicit trade.

Illicit Seizures and Judicial Processing

Throughout the 24-hour enforcement window, officers confiscated an array of contraband substances, weaponry, and undeclared goods. The narcotics seized during the raids included 1.26 kilograms of cannabis, 381 Yaba tablets, 8 grams of heroin, and 12 bottles of imported foreign liquor.

In addition to the illegal substances, the operation yielded a sharp knife, 14 mobile phones presumed to be stolen, and cash amounting to 22,120 Taka. A significant sub-section of the seizure involved cross-border smuggling, evidenced by six large sacks containing various types of Indian homeopathic medicines, alongside specialised carbon paper and cork stoppers used for illicit packaging. Furthermore, police personnel successfully recovered one victim during the coordinated raids.

DMP authorities have confirmed that the process of initiating formal legal actions against all 508 detained individuals is currently underway. The metropolitan police have reaffirmed their stance on maintaining high-visibility operations to secure neighbourhoods and suppress criminal syndicates across Dhaka.