Apart from running the illicit sex trade, Papia and Sumon made their fortune by lobbying in the recruitments of various government organisations, supplying illegal gas connections and issuing licences of CNG pump stations, Rab said, adding that they were also involved in arms and drugs trades.

The couple seemed to have made a hefty amount in a short period, and Rab said they could not find any proof of legal income.

"They had an investment of Tk one crore at a car showroom in Dhaka's FDC Gate area and Tk 40 lakh in KMC Car Wash and Auto Solution in Narsingdi," Lt Col Shafi Ullah said at the briefing.

In Narsingdi, they have a gang named "Q&C", whose members have tattoos on their hands. The gang is involved in extortion, and arms and drugs trade in the district, the Rab official added.

He also claimed Papia and Sumon ran a torture cell there.

Sources in the law enforcement agency said Papia and her husband made a huge amount by lobbying in the recruitment of various government organisations, using their political connections.

"As of now, Rab has found proof of their involvement in embezzling Tk 11 lakh for recruitment of sub-inspectors, Tk 35 lakh for supplying gas connections to a factory and Tk 29 lakh for issuing licence of a CNG pump station," the Rab official added.