Amid the nationwide crackdown on drugs, most of the top yaba dealers, based in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf, have left their lavish homes.
On spot visits, Bangla Tribune correspondent found the houses equipped with close circuit cameras. Owners fled the houses handing over the properties to the relatives to be taken care of. Some were found locked.
Abdur Rahman and Ekramul Hossain, sons of Haji Fazal Ahmed of Moulovipara area of the Upazila, have been trading yaba for seven years, according to locals.
Enlisted in the home ministry’s record, Abdur Rahman, locally known as ‘Baba’ (Father), spun his wheel of fortune through yaba trading. He left home since the crackdown began.
According to police, Rahman yaba consignment came by boats, which were distributed through a vast network across Dhaka, Chattogram, Narayanganj and Cox’s Bazar. He is named in several cases including murder.
His brother Ekramul Hossain was unemployed seven years ago. Later, he too involved in the trade. And now, his assets include two multi-storied buildings and real estates, engine-run boats, trucks, pick-up, microbuses, and cars.
Ekramul Hossain went in to hiding on the eve of the crackdown.
Sources said that siblings of local Awami League MP Abdur Rahman Badi - Mujibur Rahman, Faysal and Shafque are involved in yaba trading.
They all own multi-storied buildings at Teknaf’s Jaliia Para area. Several relatives of lawmaker Badi fled their homes since one of his relatives, Aktar Kamal was killed in a recent shootout.
Teknaf police OC Ranjit Barua said, “Police are collecting information on wealth, properties and bank account of the yaba traders.”
“Many yaba trader have made houses, owns cars. They now switched locations as a strategy. Police are continuing the drive,” Barua said.
Echoing the police officer, Teknaf-based Border Guard Bangladesh unit’s chief Lt Col Asaduz-zaman Chowdhury said, “We are on alert so that no yaba traders can cross border.”