Law enforcement agencies have seized 5kg of crystal meth, worth an estimated Tk 12.5 crore, in Dhaka in the biggest haul of the drug in the country. After getting hauls of ice and yaba across the border, drug peddlers stored them at several houses in Teknaf and later brought those to Chattogram by road. The drugs are then brought to the capital. The demand for ice is increasing these days. The gang members are operating illicit trade in Uttara, Banani, Gulshan, Dhanmondi and Mohammadpur areas. Crystal meth is a powerful drug that affects the central nervous system. Users are at high risks of stroke, heart attack, teeth decay, permanent hallucinations, and other short and long-term health effects.
There is a growing market for the highly addictive drug crystal meth in the capital, operating mostly through encrypted messaging apps. Law enforcers said around 40 to 45 individuals are leading the drug trade with the help of around 100 small-time dealers. Like yaba, crystal meth, popularly known as ice, is smuggled into the country mostly from Myanmar through the border in Teknaf and Ukhia upazilas of Cox’s Bazar, and Naikhongchhari Upazila of Bandarban. The Narcotics Control Department first came to know about ice after arresting two suspects in Mohammadpur in February 2019. Law enforcers said most of the ice dealers also sell yaba pills. The users and dealers mostly belong to high society, who become acquainted at parties. Only 10 grams of ice can cost up to Tk 1 lakh in Dhaka.
The government failed to stop the smuggling in narcotics as the domestic network of the drug smugglers still remains scratched because some ruling political men and a section of law enforcers and local government representatives are involved. The law enforcers should gear up security to stop the crystal deaths, otherwise, we cannot prepare our youths for taking the challenge to develop the nation.
