Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested three drug peddlers along with 14.77 kilogrammes of ‘crystal meth’, a drug commonly known as ‘ice’, and 3.90 lakh yaba pills in five separate drives in Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban districts on Wednesday and Thursday.
Colonel Mehdi Hossain Kabir, Sector Commander of BGB’s Ramu Sector, said on the basis of secret information, it was learned that a large shipment of narcotics might come to Bangladesh from Myanmar through Boroitoli area. On information, three patrols from the battalion headquarters of the battalion commander and Damdamiya BOP proceeded to Boroitoli area.
One patrol took up a strategic position along the embankment and the other two patrolled the river Naf. At approximately 9:20pm, the patrol saw two persons in a wooden boat crossing the border zero line from Myanmar into Bangladesh and challenged them.
Sensing the presence of BGB, the people in the boat tried to flee towards Myanmar, but the BGB patrol quickly chased them and arrested two people along with the boat.
Later, the BGB patrol team brought the boat to the Naf river bank, searched it and recovered 7.38 kg of crystal meth and 30,000 pieces of yaba tablets from two packets wrapped in polybags hidden in the boat.
The arrestees are Myanmar nationals Robi Molla, 23, son of Abdus Salam, and Ayas, 25, son of Abul Kalam.
A wooden boat used for transporting illegal drugs and 100 kg of yarn net were seized.
In another drive, a patrol team of Rejupara BOP has managed to recover 7.39 kg of crystal meth ice in an abandoned state by conducting an anti-narcotics operation at a place called Footerjhiri under Ghumdhum border of Naikhongchhari upazila in Bandarban on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, based on secret information, BGB’s Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) came to know that a shipment of drugs could be smuggled from Myanmar to Bangladesh through South Noapara area under Sabrang BOP. Based on the information, a patrol of Sabrang BOP proceeded to the area and took a strategic position along the embankment.
Around 10:45pm on Wednesday, the patrol saw two men carrying a bag crossing the Naf River and crossing the Zero Line of Border into Bangladesh. As their movement was suspicious, the patrol challenged them. Sensing the presence of BGB, the persons dropped a bag and fled towards the neighbouring village.
Later, the patrol team conducted a search operation and seized 50,000 pieces of Yaba tablets from their abandoned bag.
In another drive, a patrol of Nazirpara BOP took up a strategic position within Keora Bagan adjacent to Naf river. At around 11:40pm on Wednesday, the patrol team saw 4/5 persons in a wooden boat crossing the Zero Line of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border and coming to the banks of the Naf River inside Bangladesh.
The team challenged them. Sensing the presence of the BGB patrol, they jumped from the boat into the Naf river and fled towards Myanmar. Later, the BGB patrol reached the spot, searched the boat and seized 2,00,000 pieces of Yaba tablets from two plastic bags hidden under the deck.
Meanwhile, based on secret information, a patrol team of Teknaf BOP moved to Keora Bagan area and took a strategic position. The BGB patrol saw 3/4 persons coming towards the trawler wharf in an engine driven wooden boat at around 8:30am on Thursday.
As their movement was suspicious, the BGB patrol challenged them. They tried to run away as soon as they sensed the presence of BGB from a distance. But BGB members managed to arrest one of them. Another jumped into the Naf River and fled towards Myanmar.
Later, according to the information provided by the arrested person, the BGB patrol searched the boat and fishing net and seized 1,10,000 pieces of yaba tablets and 200 kg of yarn net from two packets wrapped in polybags hidden inside the net.
The arrested person was identified as Zahid Hossen, 22, son of Amir Hossain.
After arrest, the two Myanmar nationals and a Bangladeshi national were handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station through regular case for carrying and smuggling illegal drugs.
