The yaba smugglers at Cox’s Bazar’s Taknaf Upazila are trying to sell their assets acquired through illegal activities.
The flurry of selling their properties started after the police announced that their assets will be seized.
Smugglers, including those in police custody for surrender, are lining up to liquidate their assets.
In the last few months, the law enforcing agencies cracked down on the drug trade in Teknaf, causing many smugglers to go into hiding and many to be caught.
Many were caught and many were killed in ‘shootouts.’
On the other hand, the killing of Awami League leader Ekramul Hoque caused quite a stir which led the raids to be halted temporarily, causing the yaba traders to become active again.
Locals claim that it was a ploy on the yaba smuggler’s part to make the ‘shootouts’ questionable.
The yaba smugglers have locked up their houses and according to their relatives are coming up with ways to sell their properties.
According to sources Nur Mohammad, 40, is on the home ministry’s list of yaba smugglers. He owns a two storied house at Teknaf but went into hiding after trying to sell it many times. He is currently in police custody.
Another trader Ziaur Rahman has tried to sell his land and two storied house before being killed in an alleged shootout. The land is currently valued at Tk 300 million.
Cox’s Bazar Additional Superintendent of Police Md Iqbal Hossain said, “I am not aware of yaba smugglers selling their assets.”
“If such a thing is happening then actions will be taken after a probe,” he added.
On the other hand a district police official, wishing to remain anonymous, admitted to being aware of it.
“We are keeping an eye on things. We want to confiscate their assets but the National Revenue Board and Anti Corruption Commission want to carry out further probes,” he said.
He said that the Crime Investigation Department (CID) has recently filed a plea with the court to confiscate the assets of yaba smuggler Nurul Islam Bhutto.
Meanwhile, Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Kamal Hossain said that there is no way the drug traders can sell their assets in secret.
“If anyone wants to sell their properties, they’ll have to take permission from the deputy commissioner,” Hossain said.
“Legal action will be taken if any drug smuggler tries to sell without permission,” he added.
Last year the home minister listed 150 drug smugglers among which is former lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi and 26 members if his family.