Human Trafficking Ring Launders 376 Crore Through Libya Ransom Scheme
Photo Collected
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials have dismantled a sophisticated human trafficking ring that lured Bangladeshi citizens to Libya with false promises of employment in Italy, only to hold them for ransom under brutal conditions. According to a CID investigation, the syndicate operated across 11 districts, utilizing a vast network of bank accounts to launder over 376.5 million taka ($3.4 million USD) in illicit proceeds over the past five years.
The syndicate, led by figures including Alauddin Sheikh and Awal Farazi, reportedly targeted vulnerable individuals by masquerading as legitimate recruitment agents. Once victims arrived in Libya, they were abducted and held in captivity. Traffickers then recorded videos of the detainees being tortured and sent the footage to their families in Bangladesh to extort substantial ransom payments.
Financial investigations revealed that the proceeds were funneled through at least 114 bank accounts, many belonging to unsuspecting relatives, shopkeepers, and acquaintances who received commissions for the use of their accounts. This practice enabled the traffickers to conceal the true origin of the funds while simultaneously operating a lucrative ‘hundi’—an informal, illegal cross-border money transfer system. CID investigators have identified 18 business entities, many of which were shell companies, that served as fronts for these transactions.
The scale of the syndicate’s operations is evident in the lifestyles of its ringleaders. In the Satbaria village of Narail, suspects like Alauddin Sheikh and Awal Farazi built sprawling, multi-story residences equipped with modern security systems, while also investing heavily in cattle farms and luxury real estate in Khulna. Despite evidence of these assets, the suspects have maintained that their wealth originated from legitimate construction contracts in Libya.
On April 13, the CID filed a formal case against 34 individuals linked to the network, including the primary organizers and local associates responsible for scouting victims in rural areas. While some suspects remain in custody, others have gone into hiding. Investigators believe this network is part of a broader crisis, with migration experts estimating that over 50 similar trafficking rings remain active throughout Bangladesh.
Data from the non-governmental organization BRAC underscores the severity of the situation, noting that nearly 90 percent of migrants sent to Libya by such syndicates never find the jobs they were promised. Instead, many end up in detention camps where they face severe food shortages and systematic physical abuse.
As authorities continue to trace the financial assets of the accused, officials have stated that they are prioritizing the seizure of property and businesses acquired through these criminal activities. The CID expects the scope of the investigation to widen as they analyze further evidence of the syndicate’s ties to both local and international accomplices.
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