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In Natore’s Lalpur, the army has arrested 12 members of a fraudulent gang involved in blackmailing through the social media platform IMO and drug abuse. On Wednesday (July 9) morning, based on confidential information, the army conducted a raid in the Bilamaria area of the upazila and apprehended the suspects.
According to army sources, the arrested individuals had been using the IMO app to establish romantic relationships with various people. They secretly recorded obscene videos during video calls and used them to blackmail victims for money. The gang was caught red-handed while defrauding expatriates through the app. Additionally, they were known in the area as members of a teenage gang and drug users.
During the operation, authorities recovered 16 Android mobile phones, 12 button mobile phones, 30 SIM cards, 5 Yaba tablets, one locally made weapon, and a small amount of marijuana used in their fraudulent activities. After the operation, the arrested individuals were handed over to Lalpur Police Station.
Lalpur Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mominuzzaman stated that among the 12 arrested, four have been charged under the Narcotics Control Act. The remaining eight have been arrested under the Cyber Security Act and sent to court.
