Smuggling
on rise
BGB seized Tk 74.43 cr yaba,
phensidyl, arms in Sept
M M Jasim
Despite strict vigilance by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), smuggling of contrabands through Bangladesh-India and Bangladesh-Myanmar borders has been increasing alarmingly.
According to the latest statement issued on Thursday, the BGB seized huge drugs, including Yaba tablet and Phensidyl, and arms around Tk 74.43 crore in the month of September.
The BGB also arrested 166 persons who were involved in the smuggling. Now they are under trial and staying in different jails.
Earlier on August 26, the BGB destroyed huge banned drugs without ownership amounting to worth Tk 57.70 crore. Hundreds of smugglers were also arrested since January with huge quantities of Yaba, Phensidyl, arms and other valuable goods.
“We are very much alert in border areas to check any kinds of smuggling”, BGB Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed said.
He said no rawhide smuggling was occurred in the border areas during the Eid as the BGB has imposed a restriction in all border areas on movement of goods-carrying vehicles. It will continue so long necessary, he said.
Sources said that the intelligence agencies identified about 15 vulnerable spots suitable for smuggling and informed the Ministry of Home Affairs to take necessary measures. The spots are:
Benapole in Jessore, Burimari in Lalmonirhat, Akhaura in Chapainawabganj, Hili in Dinajpur, Tetulia in Panchagarh, Teknaf under Cox’s Bazar, Comilla, Birol under Dinajpur, Satkhira, Nalitabari under Sherpur, Gowinghat in Sylhet, Damurhuda under Chuadanga, Feni, Haluaghat under Mymensingh and Bhurungamari under Kurigram.
According to the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC), there are many factories on the other side of Indian borders that are manufacturing codeine- based phensidyl, and they are being trafficked into Bangladesh.
It said the recovered phensidyl bottles are higher than the previous years.
Ashulia is the most vital point for phensidyl business while the trade also continues at Fakirerpool, Khilgaon, Town Hall of Mohammadpur and Chankharpul in the city, said intelligence sources.
Law enforcers said the smugglers and drug peddlers deliberately change their routes between border areas and Dhaka while the entrance point remain the same. They also change their pattern of all kinds of drug peddling to escape from the law enforcement.
Organised gangs of drug smugglers are regularly bringing Yaba to the country from neighbouring Myanmar and supplying it to different districts and cities, including the capital and port city Chittagong, detective sources said.
Locals, however, alleged that Yaba smugglers have links with dishonest law enforcers and local influential political leaders.
Yaba tablets are generally carried by smugglers on their bodies. Tablets are very small so they are very easy to carry, they said.
Smugglers bring Yaba tablets from Myanmar through different border points such as Shapuri Dip, Shaprang, Teknaf, Nilla, and Whykong, said a senior detective officer wishing anonymity.
Detective sources said after arrival in Bangladesh, smugglers supply Yaba tablets to the local markets.
Meanwhile, local drug dealers have now started financing the establishment of Yaba-manufacturing units in the border areas of Myanmar adjacent to Bangladesh, the DNC sources said.
They said they have information that nearly 40 such factories have been installed recently alongside the Naf River in Myanmar with the finance of Bangladeshi drug dealers.
“Local dealers are investing on the manufacturing units, eyeing windfall profit, which has prompted dealers of other drugs to go for investment in Yaba production,” said an official of DNC.
Citing their findings, the official told The New Nation yesterday that local Yaba traders in connection with their allies in Myanmar were bringing large consignments of the banned yaba tablets from these factories to Bangladesh under the patronisation of a section of influential politicians.
The illegal arms shipments are entering Bangladesh through the borders of Chapainawabganj, Jessore, Satkhira, Comilla, Akhaura, Teknaf and Bandarban areas.
