FROM PAGE 5

Narrating the gang’s strategy, the official said the criminals first build rapport with covered-van drivers. Then they convince the drivers to be part of the plan, saying that money would be shared among everyone.

The persuaded drivers then park their vans in a secluded area on Dhaka-Chattogram highway, as instructed by the gang. After that, the criminals take apart the vans’ side, without damaging the padlock, and steal cartons of goods.

After taking the goods out, they again seal the cartons, filling them with jute and garment by-products, and put them back into the vans. Finally, they fix the side and send the vehicles to their destination. They do this so that weight machines at the port cannot detect the theft.

Later on, the criminals sell the goods in the local market quickly, as the demand for exportable garments is high, Mozammel added.