RMG export goods theft gang busted

Jayanti Knitwear Limited sent 28,820 readymade garments (RMG) items to Chittagong port for shipment on May 11. But after shipment, the consignment had 11,000 fewer pieces than the order volume. This forced the supplier to pay the foreign buyer $28,908 in damages. 

And such incidents have occurred many times in the past.

On September 15, Network Clothing Ltd sent 17,152 RMG items in 1,431 cartons to Chittagong port for export. But the buyer received only 12,152 pieces. 

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police recently busted a gang involved in exports goods theft. “They told us that they have stolen goods worth taka several thousand crores from more than 5,000 trucks and covered vans over the years,” DB’s Additional Commissioner AKM Hafiz Akter told the media on Monday.

DB arrested seven members of the gang from Dhaka’s Uttara and Cumilla’s Burichang on Friday. The arrestees are – ring leader Mohammad Shahed alias Shahed alias Sylheti, his associates Razzak, Yusuf, Mainul, Alamin, Dulal Hossain and Khairul. 

Two covered vans and 4,605 RMG products were seized from them.

Police said Shahed was accused in 24 cases and had served jail terms in six cases. 

Jayanti Knitwear filed a case with Tajgaon Industrial police on September 12, and Network Clothing lodged its case on September 17.

DB arrested Imran, Mubarak and Ibrahim after Jayanti Knitwear lodged its case. The arrestees confessed to their involvement in theft, Hafiz said, adding that they are trying to arrest the other criminals and recover the stolen goods.

There are several groups active in the country under Shahed’s leadership. They stole goods from cartons when trucks or covered vans stopped at closed factories or garages in different places on Dhaka-Chattogram Highway, Uttara, Demra, Sanarpar, Rupganj, Comilla, Feni, Mirsarai and Sitakunda. 

The thieves removed 20 to 40 pieces from each carton and sealed them again. 

Hafiz said the stolen garments were going to some small buying houses in the country and were sold to small foreign buyers. Besides, the stolen products are also sold in local markets.