Police arrested seven members of a well-organised syndicate of auto-rickshaw lifters from different parts of Chittagong in the last three days.
They also seized two stolen CNG-run auto-rickshaws, fake licence and other documents, painting materials and auto-rickshaw switches.
A team from Kotowali Police Station led by Assistant Commissioner Md Babul Akter conducted the drive since 8:50pm on Saturday.
The arrestees were Aminul Haq Majumder alias Amin, 28, of Barura in Comilla, Md Abdul Motaleb, 36, and Md Abdul Mannan, 24, of Satkania upazila in Chittagong, Md Omar Faruk, 22, of Ramu in Cox's Bazar, Abdul Mannan alias Angulkata Mannan, 38, of Boalkhali upazila in Chittagong, Shahidul Islam, 30, of Khalishpur in Khulna and Md Khorshed Alam, 24, of Begumganj in Noakhali.
During interrogation, the arrestees confessed that they had been working in two groups for lifting CNG-run auto-rickshaws. The first group led by Amin stole the auto-rickshaws with the help of the drivers concerned and took them to the other end of Shah Amanat Bridge (Karnaphuli 2nd bridge) before handing them over to the other group.
The members of the other group led by Motaleb changed the number of the stolen three-wheelers and took them to different workshops, particularly Redwan Engineering Workshop and Gafur Engineering Workshop, in Satkania.
The whole body, paintings as well as chassis and engine numbers of the auto-rickshaws were completely changed at the workshops.
The stolen three-wheelers were then sold with fake documents at Tk 2 lakh to Tk 2.5 lakh each.
The drivers of the stolen CNG-run auto-rickshaws were given Tk 30,000 each to help lifting of the three-wheelers, informed the arrestees who also disclosed the names of another five members of their syndicate.
Aminul Haq Majumder alias Amin, the linchpin of the racket, confessed that he stole five CNG-run auto-rickshaws from City Gate (the entry point of Chittagong on Dhaka-Chittagong highway), Mirersarai, Hathazari and Oxygen areas since he was released from jail only about 25 days back.