Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), during a drive, busted a gang of thieves who stole export goods from covered vans and containers during shipment, after two of its operatives were arrested from the city's Bandar area early yesterday.

The arrestees are Md Kashem, 43 and Md Rashed, 28.

DB men also recovered 1,900 pieces of export items of readymade garment's factories which were stolen from a covered van earlier, said Assistant Commissioner (AC) (West) of DB Md Moinul Islam.

AC Moinul said Kashem and Rashed were active members of a gang who stole export items of RMG factories and later sold them in local markets at lower prices.

“There are 30 to 35 operatives in the syndicate who have already made a huge amount of money through this,” said the AC.

Police sources said they stole around 4,568 pieces of RMG export goods manufactured by one JK Knit Composite Ltd of Savar when the company had sent the consignment to Chittagong Port, via a covered van, for overseas shipment.

Factory employees noticed 4,568 pieces of RMG export items were missing out of 24,640 pieces while loading for shipment, for which the shipment was later cancelled. The factory administration later spotted the covered van at Nimtala Truck Terminal and filed a case with Bandar Police Station in this connection.

After DB men began investigating and arrested Kashem from Bandar area, they learned about the syndicate, said AC Moinul adding that, based on Kashem's confession, police later conducted a drive at a warehouse in Mailar Matha area and recovered 1,900 pieces of stolen RMG export goods and arrested Rashed.

The AC further said that the syndicate has been tarnishing image of RMG sector in the international market through this crime for a long time, adding that police were trying to arrest the other members of the gang.