Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has detained a Rohingya drug trafficker and seized three kilograms of crystal meth (Ice) along with a wooden boat during an operation in Naf River under Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar.
The detainee has been identified as Md Shah Alam, 50.
The operation was conducted in early Saturday in Naf River, within the jurisdiction of the Sabrang Border Outpost (BOP) of Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB).
Acting on intelligence that a large consignment of narcotics was entering Bangladesh from Myanmar across the Naf River via the Sabrang area, BGB launched a special drive under the direction of the Teknaf Battalion Commander.
A special BGB patrol team took strategic positions in the Naf River around 1am using an advanced Phantom boat.
Around 7am, utilising technological surveillance, the patrol team spotted a wooden boat entering Bangladeshi waters from the Myanmar side of the river.
When the naval patrol team challenged the vessel, three drug traffickers on board jumped into the river and swam away to escape. However, the BGB team succeeded in detaining Shah Alam.
A search of the boat led to the recovery of 3 kilogrammes of crystal meth, hidden inside a secret compartment in three separate packets.
A hand-propelled wooden boat and two mobile phones used for drug smuggling were also seized.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan, commander of Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), said, “BGB conducted an operation in the border’s Naf River and detained a drug trafficker with three kilograms of the dangerous drug crystal meth (Ice). The other three managed to escape. Our intelligence surveillance, technological monitoring, naval patrols, and special operations are continuing to prevent drug smuggling.”
The detained suspect, recovered drugs, and other seized evidence have been handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station after a case was filed under the relevant laws, the BGB official added.
