Sources in the special police team which came from Dhaka and conducted the drive said a transport workers' leader who is a member of the ruling party's labour front Sramik Dal is the alleged godfather of the gang.

Of the gang members, Md Hanif, Khokan, Qaium, Akter and Hassan were arrested from Barisal and Aslam from Charfassion, Bhola.

Two of the recovered cars had been stolen from Dhaka.

A special team led by SI Shahjahan of Ramna thana, Dhaka arrested five of them from Nathullabad bus stand in Barisal, acting on the confession of one Shamim of Mohammadpur Chan Housing in Dhaka, held earlier.

Acting on their confession, the team recovered one stolen Indian TVS motorcycle and two cars -- one from the house of Farid, a motor mechanic, and the other from in front Comilla Hotel in the city's port area.

The car recovered from Farid's house belongs to advocate Hamid of Shahbag area and the other is owned by an army officer, both of Dhaka, police said.

Police said Shamim used to get appointed as driver in houses or firms and then, in opportune moments, escaped with cars as per directive of the gangsters.

The police team also raided different areas in the Bhola, Charfession, and Lalmohan. It recovered two stolen cars from Bhola kheya ghat (launch terminal) and a rent-a-car service in Charfassion. The gangsters in the areas were allegedly led by the transport workers leader, police said.

The operation and investigation are going on, police said.