Chittagong, Bangladesh: Several thousand Yaba methamphetamine tablets are entering Bangladesh every day from the border with Burma, according to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and other law enforcement agencies after close observance along the border. Intelligence sources told media that some powerful international criminal and financial networks are controlling the drug supply chain within Bangladesh.
“Yaba is coming to Teknaf in Cox’s Bazaar from Burma through the Naf River mainly by small boats, fishing boats, cattle carrying trawlers, and small cargo ships. The drug traffickers have been using a 14-kilometer-long route between Teknaf and Shahpuri Deep.”
The sources said nearly 100 drug paddlers are involved in supplying Yaba tablets across the country, especially in Dhaka from Teknaf.
Each dealer supplies 10,000 to 20,000 Yaba tablets in each consignment, said an intelligence officer, adding that each drug dealer sends five to six consignments every month depending on demand.
Acting on a tip-off, a joint team comprised of members of RAB-1 and the Department of Narcotics Control raided a Chinese restaurant in Uttara and arrested drug dealer Abdus Sakur Mahmud, 44, with around 18,000 Yaba tablets at about 7 p.m. on May 19, Director (Media) of RAB Headquarters Commander Sohail said.
“This was the second-largest Yaba recovery by RAB in terms of quantity, as earlier the elite force recovered around 120,000 pills from Gulshan in 2007 and arrested a manufacturer.”
“A number of influential people are involved in Yaba trading in the country. We have got the names of a number of influential people and information about their bank account numbers,” Sohail said, adding, “We are checking their bank accounts”.
Drug dealer Mahmud confessed that he was involved in the Yaba trade for a long time and he used to bring four to five consignments of Yaba tablets to Dhaka from Teknaf every month.
Police searched a land cruiser jeep at Ukhia Court Bazaar Road on May 19 and recovered 40,000 Yaba tablets, according to Chitra Dhar Tripura, assistant superintendent of police (Ukhia Circle).
“The drug peddlers drove away when the police tried to stop the jeep, which led to a high-speed chase on the highway. At one stage, the smugglers abandoned the car beside the road near Court bazar and fled. Police recovered the tablets from the car,” said the assistant superintendent of police.
Sabrang Union, located in the southern part of Teknaf Upazila, near Maungdaw Township of Arakan State in Burma, is one of the main points used by the traffickers.
In Maungdaw, Hla Myint, the owner of Maha Computer Market, is the main supplier of Yaba to Bangladesh as he has strong connections with the authorities of Maungdaw, said a drug peddler from Maungdaw. “He uses his shop under the market to keep stock and is only opened when the drugs are transported to Bangladesh. Otherwise the eight shops are always closed.”
“Other drug dealers are Bo Maung, the owner of a betel leaf shop in the municipal market, U Hla Myint, the owner of Ngwetike Sleeper, the youngstar workshop, and Thangyi from block 4 of Maungdaw.”
“Shwe Ann San, a company of hair supply, is working with Drug Enforcement Agency and National Security Agency, while assistant police officer Thaung Htun and Sergeant Tin Aye are carrying Yaba with their motorcycles from Buthidaung.”
