Pallabi police ASI arrested with 5,310 yaba pills

Two people, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police, have been arrested in Dhaka on charges of drug dealing, with 5,310 yaba tablets allegedly seized from their possession, police said.

The arrestees are ASI Shafiqul Islam, 43, of Pallabi Police Station under Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and Wasim, 24.

Dakkhinkhan police arrested them in separate raids in the Azampur Kacha Bazar and Bismillah Palli areas of Uttara on Sunday night.

A case was filed against them under the Narcotics Control Act and a Dhaka court on Monday ordered them to be sent to jail.

According to the case statement, police conducted a raid in the Azampur Kacha Bazar area following information that yaba was being sold there. 

Wasim was arrested while allegedly trying to flee and 50 yaba tablets were seized from his possession.

Based on information provided by Wasim, police later raided a rented house and arrested ASI Shafiqul with 200 yaba tablets, the statement said.

Police subsequently raided a flat in Bismillah Palli of Azampur based on information provided by the two arrestees and seized another 5,060 yaba tablets.

Dakkhinkhan Police Station Sub-Inspector Shahinur Rahman, also the investigating officer of the case, said on Tuesday that two to three unidentified people were also made accused in the case.

“During preliminary interrogation, the two arrested suspects admitted to being involved in yaba trading for a long time,” he said.

Pallabi Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Hasan Basir told the Daily Sun, “Shafiqul Islam was transferred to Pallabi Police Station in June. After performing his duties for two or three days, he fell ill and was admitted to hospital. He had remained absent since then.”

Asked what action would be taken against him, he said, “We will take all necessary action against him in accordance with our rules.”