UNB, Dhaka :
Transnational drug trafficking organisations operate within Bangladesh with connections to Burma and India, says a new report released by the US Department of State.
Narcotics enforcement agencies have reported increased trafficking of synthetic drugs such as “yaba” (a mixture of caffeine and methamphetamine, sometimes with heroin) and diverted pharmaceuticals, such as phensedyl (codeine-based
cough syrup), the report observed. Drug traffickers continue to divert precursor chemicals and chemical preparations (incorporating ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, toluene, and acetone) from Bangladeshi pharmaceutical or chemical companies’ illicit drug production, says the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report of the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, US Department of State.
Bangladesh has successfully engaged bilaterally with India to control the diversion of phensedyl, and Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies work closely with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to seize and disrupt illicit drugs and chemicals, said the report released on Thursday.
Bangladesh, according to the report, continues to struggle to allocate sufficient resources to control precursors through consistent enforcement of existing laws despite government efforts.
The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) issues licenses for the import, export, transport, shipment, manufacture, sale, distribution, purchase, possession, storage, or other use of controlled precursors.
The NCA implementing rules regulate the control, monitoring, and use of precursors for industrial, scientific and medical purposes through a licensing system.
The DNC, however, lacks sufficient staff and equipment to detect and interdict precursors consistently.
Bangladesh has a nascent but growing commercial pharmaceutical industry, it says.
It said, Beximco Pharmaceuticals in August became the first Bangladeshi company to receive Federal Drug Administration (FDA) authority to export a prescription drug to the United States. “Beximco now has FDA approval for two drugs.”
Bangladesh has also established District Drug Control Committees (DDCC) to monitor and coordinate the activities among the agencies responsible for drug and precursor chemical enforcement.
Police, Customs, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard, and Coast Guard are empowered to detect and intercept illegal precursor chemical and drug operations. The counterdrug unit of the Dhaka Metro Police has successfully assisted DEA in conducting investigations targeting Dhaka-based traffickers of pseudoephedrine chemical preparations.
The government of Bangladesh is committed to the implementation of the 1988 UN Convention and regional agreements regarding control of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals.
Twenty-two of the 24 precursor chemicals listed in the 1988 UN Convention are included in the ‘Schedule of Drugs’ of Bangladesh’s Narcotics Control Act (NCA) to comply with the provisions of Article 12 of the 1988 UN Convention.
The NCA also allows financial investigations and freezing of assets derived from trafficking in drugs and precursors.
The government provides the INCB with annual estimates of Bangladesh’s legitimate use requirements for imports of the four precursors frequently used in the manufacture of amphetamine-type-stimulant (ATS).
The Directorate General of Drug Administration has developed a draft national drug policy, which was approved by the Cabinet but it has not yet been published in the gazette, in response to the threat posed by the abuse of and trafficking in pharmaceutical preparations and other drugs.
Transnational drug trafficking organisations operate within Bangladesh with connections to Burma and India, says a new report released by the US Department of State.
Narcotics enforcement agencies have reported increased trafficking of synthetic drugs such as “yaba” (a mixture of caffeine and methamphetamine, sometimes with heroin) and diverted pharmaceuticals, such as phensedyl (codeine-based
cough syrup), the report observed. Drug traffickers continue to divert precursor chemicals and chemical preparations (incorporating ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, toluene, and acetone) from Bangladeshi pharmaceutical or chemical companies’ illicit drug production, says the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report of the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, US Department of State.
Bangladesh has successfully engaged bilaterally with India to control the diversion of phensedyl, and Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies work closely with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to seize and disrupt illicit drugs and chemicals, said the report released on Thursday.
Bangladesh, according to the report, continues to struggle to allocate sufficient resources to control precursors through consistent enforcement of existing laws despite government efforts.
The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) issues licenses for the import, export, transport, shipment, manufacture, sale, distribution, purchase, possession, storage, or other use of controlled precursors.
The NCA implementing rules regulate the control, monitoring, and use of precursors for industrial, scientific and medical purposes through a licensing system.
The DNC, however, lacks sufficient staff and equipment to detect and interdict precursors consistently.
Bangladesh has a nascent but growing commercial pharmaceutical industry, it says.
It said, Beximco Pharmaceuticals in August became the first Bangladeshi company to receive Federal Drug Administration (FDA) authority to export a prescription drug to the United States. “Beximco now has FDA approval for two drugs.”
Bangladesh has also established District Drug Control Committees (DDCC) to monitor and coordinate the activities among the agencies responsible for drug and precursor chemical enforcement.
Police, Customs, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard, and Coast Guard are empowered to detect and intercept illegal precursor chemical and drug operations. The counterdrug unit of the Dhaka Metro Police has successfully assisted DEA in conducting investigations targeting Dhaka-based traffickers of pseudoephedrine chemical preparations.
The government of Bangladesh is committed to the implementation of the 1988 UN Convention and regional agreements regarding control of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals.
Twenty-two of the 24 precursor chemicals listed in the 1988 UN Convention are included in the ‘Schedule of Drugs’ of Bangladesh’s Narcotics Control Act (NCA) to comply with the provisions of Article 12 of the 1988 UN Convention.
The NCA also allows financial investigations and freezing of assets derived from trafficking in drugs and precursors.
The government provides the INCB with annual estimates of Bangladesh’s legitimate use requirements for imports of the four precursors frequently used in the manufacture of amphetamine-type-stimulant (ATS).
The Directorate General of Drug Administration has developed a draft national drug policy, which was approved by the Cabinet but it has not yet been published in the gazette, in response to the threat posed by the abuse of and trafficking in pharmaceutical preparations and other drugs.
