OFFICIALS of the Department of Narcotics Control have disclosed that Drug dealers are luring Rohingyas into Yaba rackets and using them as carriers. Some traffickers even take disguise as refugees and smuggle in large consignments of the tablets. Law enforcers fear that consumption of Yaba will surge when the lethal drug makes its way out of the camps. Since the influx began on August 25, law enforcers have arrested 12 Rohingyas with 30,200 Yaba pills in Chittagong city. Police officers say the arrestees managed to get out of Leda, Noapara, Unsipara, Balukhali and Kutupalong refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.
DNC’s Chittagong division intelligence wing prepared a special report mentioning the recent cases and forwarded it to its Headquarters in Dhaka on September 27. The two-page report alleged that local drug dealers had been paying the refugees to carry Yaba pills from Cox’s Bazar to elsewhere in the country. Some Rohingyas have smuggled out of the camps with the drugs dodging law enforcers. The report also mentioned that local drug dealers tell refugees, even if they are caught, they would get free food and shelter in jail. The Rohingya refugees, with hope of a better life, get involved in the drug racket.
Many influential and powerful people are behind Yaba business which includes political leaders, UP Chairmen, officials of law enforcers and so on. Yaba started to enter Bangladesh during the late 1990s. At first, it was not a serious threat like phensedyl but now every corner of our country is suffering because of it. A good portion of our youth has become Yaba addict. To get money to purchase Yaba, they commit terrible crimes like, theft, murder and prostitution. Many intake this harmful substance from the same syringe, which causes the spread of HIV and B-Hepatitis. Yaba is considered the most dangerous among drugs. It causes heart, lung and kidney failure. It also damages important brain cells.
Carrying of Yaba pills by the Rohingyas will probably increase if the Rohingya influx continues. It is much easier to lure Rohingyas into crimes as they lack basic needs like food and shelter. We are frequently mentioning that the problem associated with Rohingya influx will get worse if actions are not taken seriously and quickly.
