Six Chinese, Taiwanese nationals held in Cox’s Bazar with 1,938 iPhones, dozens of laptops

Police have detained six Chinese and Taiwanese nationals in Cox’s Bazar after seizing 1,938 iPhones, dozens of laptops and communications equipment from a hotel, as authorities investigate suspected online fraud and cybercrime operations.

The six were detained during a raid on Hotel Sea Palace in Cox’s Bazar town on Thursday night and produced before a local court at around 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Those detained are Taiwanese national Wei Ching Wen and Chinese nationals Xu Yangfan, Yan Changcheng, Xu Haiyang, Wu Jian Xiong and Zhang Zeming.

Md Wahidur Rahman, additional superintendent of police (crime) in Cox’s Bazar, said the operation followed a complaint filed with Ramu police station and information received from police in Dhaka.

Police said they seized 1,938 iPhones, between 30 and 40 laptops and several devices resembling communications equipment used by foreign police agencies.

“A case has been filed against those detained. They are initially accused of involvement in online fraud and cybercrime,” Wahidur said. “Further details will emerge through the investigation.”

The arrests could be part of a considerably larger investigation.

A police source said between 200 and 300 Chinese and Taiwanese nationals had been staying for several months at two hotels they had rented along Cox’s Bazar’s Marine Drive. Authorities suspect they were operating online fraud schemes from the area.

Police have not publicly detailed the nature or scale of the suspected operation, how the nearly 2,000 iPhones were allegedly being used, or whether the other foreign nationals remain in Cox’s Bazar.

An officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said operations were underway to identify and detain others suspected of involvement.

Hotel Sea Palace said a group of Chinese nationals checked into the hotel on Aug. 26 and that several guests were detained during Thursday night’s raid.

The hotel declined to say what the group had told management about the purpose of their stay.