It has been a year since 102 traders of contraband yaba surrendered to the law enforcers in Cox’s Bazar. However, the government is yet to have any headway into seizing their illegal assets.
The district police wrote to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), Criminal Investigation Department (CID), National Board of Revenue (NBR) and Bangladesh Bank after they surrendered.
With a second batch of yaba traders set to surrender, no money laundering case has been filed against those who surrendered a year later which raises the question: are surrendered yaba traders getting away with illegal assets?
Law enforcers say that they will not be spared and the illegal assets seized and they are unable to launch investigations into the assets due to lack of manpower.
On Jan 20 last year, the police charged 101 drug traders who surrendered under the arms and narcotics legislations. One of them died in prison.
On Feb 16 last year the 102 drug traders surrendered in front of the home minister with 350,000 tablets of contraband yaba and 30 firearms. Among them were 16 family members of former lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi.
Cox’s Superintendant of police ABM Masud says that the largest group has surrendered and over 150 yaba traders have been killed in ‘shootouts’ with law enforcers.
He said that while yaba consignments coming in have gone down, some Rohingyas are still bringing them in. “There are a few other big traders. We are continuously conducting raids to catch them.”
According to law enforcers, the yaba traders acquired massive wealth through illegal drug trade. Among them are yaba ‘godfathers’ who made millions.
Over 400 drug peddlers were killed from May 2018 after which many fled the area. That, however, didn’t stop consignments from coming in with the Rohingyas getting involved and storing the drugs in remote areas.
Law enforcers said that the surrendered drug traders were told that they would be dealt with ‘leniently.’ However, it was announced their assets would be probed after questions rose regarding them getting away with their assets.
Responding to queries on the matter, CID Organised Crime Department Superintendant of police Mostafa Kamal said that they have primarily selected 40 yaba traders whose assets are being probed.
“After the investigations are over, a case will be opened under the money laundering legislation if proof is found,” he said.
Law enforcers say that there are instances of a criminal’s assets being seized throughout the world. The initiative to seize the drug traders’ assets were taken with the goal to keep them in the state treasury. The move was to send a message to drug peddlers that they wouldn’t be able to enjoy their wealth.