MOHAMMAD JAMIL KHAN

They sell Ayurvedic medicines on buses and trains. Some members of the gang travel on specific vehicles in the guise of passengers. In the middle of the journey, the other members get on board and pitch benefits of the medication. To make the pitch more credible, the “commuters” begin hyping up the medicines, saying “I took it before and it was helpful”.

Because of all the “positive feedback”, some travellers fall right into the trap and buy the products. The catch is that these seemingly innocuous ayurvedic medicines are mixed with powerful sedatives. As a result, commuters become unconscious shortly after consuming those. And then, the gang starts snatching away valuables from the targets.

Mizanur Rahman Molla alias Molla Mizanur, the leader of the dope gang, described the techniques while talking to this newspaper recently.

Mizanur, also known as “Guru” among his associates, has been involved in such activities for over one and a half decades on Dhaka-Chattogram and Dhaka-Sylhet highways, and different routes of north Bengal.

Law enforcers have arrested him six times so far, but Mizanur returned to this life of crime after securing bail every time.

Recently, the detective branch (DB) of police arrested Mizanur again, alongside four others -- Sumon, Sarwar, Abul Basar, and Nure Alam -- from different areas of the capital on Sunday.

Mashiur Rahman, deputy commissioner of DB (Lalbagh division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star that they are now interrogating the arrestees to learn about other dope gangs.

Generally, these gangs usually operate during summer, but this year, they started looting people before the end of winter, he said.

Detectives came to know about the gang’s activities and arrested the five while investigating a recent complaint of a district additional judge.

The additional judge was going to Dhaka from Chattogram on a public bus. As he did not reach home in time, his relatives started to search for him.

Finally, he was found unconscious at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital, according to detectives.

Mizanur, also known as “Guru” among his associates, has been involved in such activities for over one and a half decades on Dhaka-Chattogram highways, Dhaka-Sylhet highways, and different routes of north Bengal. Law enforcers have arrested him six times so far, but Mizanur returned to this life of crime after securing bail every time.