The Detective Branch (DB) of police has uncovered a cross-border mobile phone trafficking network, revealing that a portion of snatched and stolen phones in Bangladesh are being smuggled to neighbouring countries after having their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers altered.

The discovery came following the arrest of five individuals in Chattogram on Thursday night, along with the seizure of a large cache of stolen devices.

At a press briefing on Friday, police said they had recovered 342 mobile phones of various brands, six laptops, and a significant amount of cash from a flat on Harish Dutta Lane under Kotwali Police Station.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Md Tanvir Hasnain (32), Sohel Uddin (32), Md Rubel alias Chakma Rubel (36), Md Mohammad Hossain (22), and Abdullah Al Mamun (27). Police described Rubel as a known mugger with a criminal record.

Mohammad Mahbub Alam Khan, Deputy Commissioner (West) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch, told bdnews24.com that the confiscated phones were stolen from various parts of the city.

“The flat was rented specifically for tampering with IMEI numbers and performing minor repairs on stolen phones,” he said.

“During preliminary interrogation, the suspects admitted they altered the IMEI numbers, carried out small fixes, repackaged the phones, and then distributed them across different districts.”

A portion of the smuggled phones, he added, were sent to Rohingya refugee camps, while others made their way to neighbouring countries including Myanmar, India, and Nepal.

Police say investigations are ongoing to identify the broader network behind the trafficking ring and to locate additional suspects and destinations.