The Special Response Battalion (SRB-3) has arrested four people, including a Chinese national, over alleged smuggling of Bangladeshi medicines worth around Tk7.5 crore, including cancer drugs and other medicines used to treat serious illnesses.
The arrests were made during a special operation in Dhaka’s Uttara area at around 7:30pm on October 14, 2026, according to an SRB-3 press release.
The arrestees are Li Fen, 34, a Chinese national; Bokul Nahar Bithi, 24, of Rangpur; Yunus Ali, 26, of Satkhira; and Sajib Howlader, 28, of Patuakhali.
The battalion said it seized medicines valued at approximately Tk7.5 crore and Tk6,06,140 in cash from their possession.
According to preliminary interrogation and investigation, the group allegedly sent Bangladeshi medicines abroad illegally through courier services, evading government revenue. Their reported destinations included Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and other countries.
The medicines were allegedly purchased in Bangladesh at comparatively low prices and shipped overseas for profit. The consignments reportedly included medicines used to treat cancer and other complex and chronic diseases.
Investigators said the group used cartons weighing around 24–25 kilograms to transport medicines through courier services.
The Chinese national reportedly first arrived in Bangladesh on a 30-day tourist visa in August 2024 and made repeated visits to the country. Bithi allegedly studied business administration at China Hunan Normal University from 2019 to 2023 and later worked as an interpreter for Chinese nationals in Bangladesh.
The press release also said Lao customs seized a 100-kilogram consignment sent by courier on October 13 because it lacked valid documentation.
Investigators suspect that some employees of pharmaceutical companies may have colluded with the alleged smuggling network to sell medicines illegally for higher profits. The allegations are being examined.
SRB-3 said the types and quantities of medicines seized, along with the allegations against the suspects, were under further investigation. Legal proceedings against the four arrestees were underway.
