Entry of yaba into the capital hasn’t stopped; the drug is coming to Dhaka via courier, sometimes inside electronic goods or, mixed with other essential raw materials.
But, drug dealers are selling only to trusted customers. One month into the anti-drug campaign, law enforcers, acting on tip-offs, recovered thousands of pieces of the drug from several spots in Dhaka.
Narcotics control department says: “due to the ongoing crackdown, supply has fallen though the selling hasn’t stopped fully.”
Drug dealers are constantly coming up with new strategies for transport/shipment.
In the past, yaba entered Dhaka concealed in fruit shipments; now they are being brought inside electronic equipment or, at times, carried by people who have swallowed tablets sealed in small packets.
On 30 June last, a narcotics team recovered 400 pieces of yaba from a multi-plug in a house in Dakkhin Khan.
Additional director of the Narcotics Control Department, Dhaka North, Md Khorshed Alam, says: “our suspicion was raised when we saw a screwdriver at the house by the TV.”
Narcotics detective, Md Nazrul Islam told Bangla Tribune: “as a result of the crackdown, supply and selling have fallen though the illegal operation has not stopped.”
To uproot drugs, massive social drive is essential, he added.
On 28 June last, a person called Aman Hossain was arrested in Uttara with 14000 pieces of yaba.
He used to get yaba from Chittagong through Sunderban courier service. There have been several arrests, including three persons who were carrying the contraband item in their stomach.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime, CTTC, Md. Rahmatullah, says: “entry of drugs into the capital has declined though traders are changing methods to bring yaba.”
We are trying to intercept such newly crafted methods, he assured.