'Launch turned into floating brothel', says Rab; 96 arrested for drugs, anti-social activities

Rab claimed to have arrested 96 individuals on charges of taking drugs, engaging in gambling and anti-social activities on a launch on Buriganga River yesterday.

This group has been involved in these crimes in the name of "river cruise" for long, Rab-10 Commanding Officer Mahfuzur Rahman told The Daily Star.

On information, a Rab team carried out a day-long raid yesterday on the Buriganga river and arrested them from the launch, he said.

Rab claimed to have recovered the drugs from the launch on Buriganga River. Photo: Collected

Rab officials said the arrestees rented the launch in the name of river cruise to Chandpur and their criminal activities started as soon as the vessel left Dhaka city. Many took yaba.

They threw away bottles of alcohol and other evidence in the river before they returned to the launch terminal, Rab said.

"They turned the launch into some sort of floating brothel," the Rab-10 commanding officer said.

Rab seized the launch.

A case has been filed with South Keraniganj Police Station in this regard.