Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained five suspected members of an international drug smuggling gang from the capital's Kaula area on Monday.

The detainees -- allegedly linked to a massive haul of drugs in Sri Lanka recently -- were identified as Fatema Imam Tania, 26; Afsana Mimi, 23; Salma Sultana, 26; Sheikh Mohammad Badhon alias Parvez, 28; and Ruhul Amin alias Saimon, 29. Yaba pills, foreign currencies and passports were seized from them.

“The gang operated in multiple countries and has networks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Malaysia and Sri Lanka,” Mufti Mahmud Khan, Rab's Legal and Media Wing director, told a press briefing yesterday at its Media Centre in Karwan Bazar.

He added that these five people also travelled to those countries several times and used to smuggle drugs in luggage.

Rab claimed one Arif Uddin, owner of Al-Amin Fashion Buying House, is the gang leader in Bangladesh who has at least 15 to 20 people in the drug trade syndicate. Arif is on the run.

Mahmud said Sri Lankan authorities arrested two Bangladeshis – Jamal Uddin and Rafiul Ilsam – in December 2018 with 272kg of heroin and 5kg cocaine from Colombo. Several days later, Suryamoni, another Bangladeshi, was arrested with 32kg heroin.

A taskforce was formed in Bangladesh to investigate the arrests of Bangladeshis with drugs, Mahmud said. The taskforce arrested suspected drug dealer Choice Rahman on January 12. A case was later filed at Uttara West Police Station.

Quoting the detainees, Mahmud said Arif himself recruited members for the syndicate. One Rehana and Saimon helped him with recruitments.

“Under-educated but smart girls were their target,” the Rab official said.

At first, they would involve the new recruits with the official business (buying house) but after some time, some employees were selected for collecting and selling drugs in the country, he said.

When those employees became well-acquainted with the business, they would be sent abroad to supply drugs.

“Four houses were rented in Sri Lanka with the documents of Afsana Mimi and others to operate the trade,” Mahmud added.

The Rab official said they don't yet have any information that confirms the detainees brought drugs to Bangladesh. “However, they did collect drugs from abroad and supplied them to other countries,” he claimed.