Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized 4.20 lakh yaba tablets in a special anti-drug operation in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.
The estimated market value of the recovered drugs is Tk12.6 crore.
According to sources at Ukhiya Battalion (64 BGB), a special patrol team from the battalion headquarters and Jhimongkhali BOP took position in the Sakerer Gher border area early Thursday following a tip-off.
At around 3:00am, three suspected individuals attempted to enter Bangladesh from Myanmar.
Sensing the presence of BGB, the smugglers fled by swimming through a nearby water body and escaped back towards Myanmar.
The patrol team later searched the area and recovered a plastic sack containing 42 khaki-coloured airtight packets wrapped in Scotch tape.
These packets contained a total of 4.20 lakh yaba tablets.
Despite an extended search, no other illegal items were found. BGB also conducted a combing operation in the area to detain the fleeing suspects, but no arrests were made due to darkness.
Commanding Officer of BGB Ukhiya 64 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Md Jahidul Islam, said intelligence surveillance has been strengthened to identify and arrest the smugglers who escaped.
He added that BGB remains firm not only in guarding the border but also in preventing drug trafficking and smuggling.
Operations along the border are ongoing. The seized yaba has been handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station.
