Law enforcers are carrying out a nationwide crackdown on drugs; already, 250 known narcotics traders have been killed during ‘shootout’ with the law and known spots for selling/buying are under surveillance. However, even after vigilance, drugs continue to enter the country.
DG of Narcotics Control Department, Jamaluddin Ahmed, told Bangla Tribune: “we have managed to contain the supply of drugs; stopping it totally is difficult.”
In May and June, the law enforcers confiscated 73 lakh 41 thousand and 51 thousand 902 pieces of Yaba respectively.
According to police figures, 42,805 drug traders and users were arrested since the crackdown began with more than 33000 cases lodged.
The BGB has also confiscated around 12 lakh pieces of Yaba along with other drugs like heroin and Phensidyl.
Additional DG of RAB, Col. Anwar Latif Khan, says: “capping the drug trade for good is a time consuming exercise; we have create pressure on supply chain so that it falls and gradually becomes zero.”
We also need awareness among the general people about drugs, he added.
In drug trade, new strategies are being deployed by sellers with children and women used as carriers.
Officials believe that Yaba is being transported by waterways; and since launches and steamers cannot be searched, the supply goes on.
The coastguards are searching boats though small vessels are dodging the law and spreading across the country.
An official of the detective branch said that unless advance information is provided, all trucks entering the city cannot be searched for concealed drugs.
Meanwhile, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Masudur Rahman, says: “to catch drug traders we have officers operating incognito.”
Police have taken zero tolerance in dealing with drugs, he added.