The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested seven members of an organised syndicate allegedly involved in visa fraud and human trafficking by sending another woman to Italy using a visa issued to a genuine passport holder.

During the operation, the CID recovered 56 passports, 153 seals bearing the names of various government, private and foreign organisations, an embossing seal, three CPUs, a laptop and Tk2.5 lakh in cash.

The arrested are Belayet Hossain, Nazmul Hasan, Mehedi Hasan, Md Solaiman Sumon, Fazle Rabbi, Md Touhidur Rahman and Kawsar Hossain.

CID Additional Special Superintendent of Police (Media) Abu Taleb disclosed the information on Tuesday.

He said members of the CID’s Human Trafficking Branch (THB) arrested the seven suspects during a raid in Gulshan-1 in the capital on Monday.

A case has been filed with Gulshan Police Station under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act and relevant sections of the Penal Code relating to fraud and forgery.

According to the CID, the victim’s husband has been living in Italy for a long time. Hoping to join him there with her four children, the woman submitted the necessary documents to the Italian Embassy.

Later, while renewing her passport, she came into contact with Nazmul Hasan, who allegedly promised to arrange the renewal and obtain an Italian visa quickly.

He then took her to a travel agency in Gulshan, where she was introduced to the firm’s head, Belayet Hossain.

The accused later entered into a financial agreement with the woman, assuring her that they would arrange her Italian visa, and kept her passport in their possession.

Believing that the visa process was underway, the woman paid the accused Tk4.4 lakh in two instalments through bank transactions in an effort to recover her passport and complete the process.

However, when she arrived at the airport with her children to travel to Italy, immigration officials informed her that another woman had already travelled to Italy on 24 April using the Italian visa affixed to her passport.

She then realised that her passport and visa had been fraudulently used to send another woman abroad.

Following the advice of immigration officials, the victim lodged a complaint with the CID’s Human Trafficking Branch, prompting an investigation.

Based on intelligence information, the CID later conducted the raid and arrested the seven suspects.

Abu Taleb said a preliminary investigation had confirmed the allegations and revealed the involvement of the arrested individuals.

He said investigators recovered a large number of passports, forged seals, computers and other incriminating materials from the suspects.

According to the CID, the syndicate targeted people aspiring to migrate abroad by luring them with promises of Italian visas and a better life.

After collecting money from victims, they allegedly retained their passports and fraudulently sent other individuals abroad using visas issued in the names of genuine passport holders.

Preliminary findings also revealed that the alleged ringleader, Belayet Hossain, had been involved in sending around 30 people to Italy using the same fraudulent method since 2016.

The CID said Belayet is currently out on bail in another case filed with Airport Police Station in 2024 over similar allegations, while the case is still pending trial.

The seized passports, seals, computers and other evidence are now undergoing forensic examination.

Investigators are also examining the accused’s financial transactions, identifying their local and overseas associates and tracing additional victims who may have fallen prey to the syndicate.

The CID urged people seeking overseas employment to follow government-approved migration procedures, avoid handing over passports or money to individuals or organisations without proper verification, and immediately inform law enforcement agencies or the CID if they suspect visa fraud or human trafficking.