Chinese nationals in illegal iPhone factory in capital, 3 arrested

The Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch (DB) has discovered an illegal iPhone assembly factory run under the direct supervision of Chinese nationals in Uttara and Nikunja areas of the capital Dhaka. A total of three people, including two Chinese nationals, have been arrested on charges of manufacturing fake iPhones using parts imported from abroad and marketing them as genuine phones by evading taxes.

On Wednesday (January 7), these factories were raided in a special operation by the DB. A total of 363 iPhones of various models, a large amount of mobile parts and modern equipment used for phone assembly were recovered in the operation. According to the DB, the gang had been manufacturing mobile phones illegally in a secret lab in Dhaka for the past one and a half years and defrauding ordinary buyers.

At a press conference organized at the DMP Media Center on Thursday (January 8), Deputy Police Commissioner of the DB's Mirpur Division, Mohiuddin Mahmud Sohel, gave detailed information on this matter. He said that based on a secret information, a team of detective police simultaneously conducted raids in Sector 17 of Uttara and Nikunj-1 area. One person was arrested from Uttara with 58 iPhones and two Chinese nationals were arrested from Nikunj area with 305 iPhones.

During the arrest, along with illegal mobile phones and assembly equipment, foreign liquor was also recovered from their custody. Detective officials said that this gang used to bring different parts from abroad and assemble them perfectly in a secret lab in Dhaka. Later, they were supplied to the market as genuine iPhones and sold at high prices.

Initial investigation revealed that this fraudulent gang has been continuously carrying out this illegal activity for the last 18 months and has already distributed a large number of fake iPhones in the country's market. In response to a question whether any Bangladeshi nationals are involved in the gang, the DB official said that the names of a few have come up, but for the sake of investigation, those names are not being disclosed right now.

Police said that this gang has misled the general public by making and selling fake iPhones and in many cases has sold fake phones at the price of real iPhones. The DB has urged the general public to be vigilant in this regard.

Deputy Commissioner of Police of DB, Mohiuddin Mahmud Sohel, advised not to fall into the temptation of buying 'original iPhones' at low prices and said that when buying mobile phones, one must choose an authorized showroom or a trusted source. Currently, the process of taking legal action against the arrested persons is underway at the relevant police station and intelligence surveillance has been further strengthened to identify the main masterminds and absconding members of the gang.