Rogue proxy gangs masquerading as law enforcement on the streets

In conflict zones, foreign youths are sometimes seen fighting as “proxy fighters,” wearing the uniforms of other countries’ forces. While Bangladesh does not face such battlefield proxies, a different kind of threat has taken shape on its roads.

A growing number of criminal gangs are posing as law enforcement personnel, equipped with items ranging from RAB or Detective Branch (DB) jackets to handcuffs, pistols and walkie-talkies—making them appear indistinguishable from official raiding teams.

When they force individuals into vehicles, it often looks like a legitimate arrest. In reality, these so-called proxy groups are highly dangerous criminal networks lying in wait for their targets.

On 25 April, businessman Salman Mahbub Joy was abducted in Uttara Sector 15 by individuals impersonating RAB officers, who later robbed him of Tk65 lakh. DB police have arrested two suspects in connection with the incident, including a reportedly dismissed police officer. Last Friday, RAB detained two members of an organised robbery gang in Demra, Dhaka, as they were preparing to carry out a heist using law enforcement uniforms.

Earlier, on 27 February, criminals posing as DB police set up a roadblock in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, and looted around 14 tonnes of steel rods. Similar incidents of robbery and mugging under the guise of RAB, DB and other agencies are reported frequently. Police Headquarters data show that 133 robberies were recorded nationwide in the first three months of this year, including 12 within Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) jurisdiction. During the same period, 439 dacoity cases were filed across the country, 76 of them in Dhaka alone.

According to relevant sources, one group abducts victims under the pretext of law enforcement operations before looting them, while another conducts reconnaissance on affluent homes and strikes under cover of darkness. Dismissed members of various forces are reportedly joining these gangs, bringing insider knowledge that helps them evade detection. They often use SIM cards registered under the names of slum dwellers or vulnerable individuals from remote areas. In cases of home invasions, markings are sometimes left on roads after reconnaissance to guide the operational teams.

Crime analyst and Dhaka University Associate Professor Dr Towhidul Islam noted that these groups are becoming increasingly brazen by exploiting both the public’s fear of and trust in law enforcement agencies.

A recent case illustrates the scale of such operations. On the night of 6 August 2024, a gang of 12–13 robbers looted valuables worth around Tk40 lakh—including gold ornaments and mobile phones—from a house in Matikata, Dhaka. DB police later arrested three individuals, including a key figure, Ali Hossain, alias Chora Ali, who is accused in 17 cases. Investigators found that a reconnaissance team would identify targets in the evening and leave coded markings to guide the main group.

Within these gangs, those with more criminal cases often receive a larger share of the loot. To avoid detection, they use SIM cards registered under false identities, often for no more than 15–20 minutes.

Meanwhile, RAB says tackling organised crime remains a top priority. Wing Commander MZM Entekhab Chowdhury, Director of the force’s Legal and Media Wing, acknowledged that dismantling such networks may take time due to their evolving tactics, use of technology and operation in small, coordinated groups. However, he emphasised that each incident is followed by swift investigations and arrests, with intelligence surveillance and technology-driven operations being used to curb these crimes.