Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) has arrested 186 individuals during the first four days of a massive anti-crime operation titled “S-Drive,” aimed at eradicating narcotics, mugging, and teen gangs in the port city.
The crackdown, which commenced at midnight on 3 March, has led to the recovery of a significant haul of foreign and local firearms, ammunition, and drugs.
According to CMP control room data, the operation’s intensity peaked on the second day (4 March) with 70 arrests, of whom 45 were muggers.
On the first day, 40 people were detained, including 19 muggers and 9 teen gang members. Subsequent raids on 5 and 6 March resulted in 39 and 37 arrests respectively, bringing the four-day total to 97 muggers and 44 teen gang members.
The special initiative was launched following a surge in security concerns, particularly after armed miscreants fired approximately 15 rounds from pistols, SMGs, and rifles at the residence of Mujibur Rahman, owner of the Smart Group, in the city’s Chandanpura area on 28 February.
The attackers were reportedly demanding one crore taka in extortion. A similar attack had previously occurred at the same residence on 2 January, and notably, police were present inside the house during the second incident.
The drive has yielded a substantial cache of weaponry.
On 3 March, in the Bayezid Bostami area, police recovered two foreign pistols, three magazines, one foreign SMG (with magazine), one pipe gun, 455 rounds of pistol ammunition, and 14 live shotgun cartridges, alongside various sharp weapons like cleavers and daggers.
This raid targeted Mohammad, the nephew of listed top terrorist Sajjad Ali (alias Boro Sajjad). CMP Additional Commissioner (Traffic) Wahidul Haque Chowdhury reported that the terrorists opened fire and managed to flee during the encounter.
Further seizures on 4 March in Panchlaish included a Chinese axe and four local daggers.
In terms of narcotics, the CMP seized a total of 9,196 Yaba tablets. The DB (North) division recovered 5,000 tablets in Khulshi on 4 March, while 1,000 tablets were found in the Kotwali area alongside the arrest of 15 muggers.
Other recoveries included 3kg of cannabis, 48 cans of beer, and 12 litres of country liquor, while several drug dens were demolished.
On 6 March, police arrested Shahab Uddin Shabu, the brother of notorious terrorist Shahidul Islam Buishya, and an associate named Parvez. Shabu faces six pending cases involving arms, drugs, attempted murder, and theft.
Police officials believe most of the city’s criminal activities are orchestrated by Sajjad Ali, an Interpol most-wanted criminal who has controlled the local underworld from abroad for two decades.
Sajjad’s network, spanning Chandgaon, Bayezid Bostami, Panchlaish, Hathazari, and Raozan, has been linked to 11 murders since 5 August last year. These include a double murder in Bakalia, the killing of Akbor in Patenga, and the shooting of Sarwar Hossain Babla during a BNP candidate’s campaign.
Statistical analysis by the CMP identifies Kotwali, Halishahar, and Pahartali as mugging hotspots, while teen gang activity is most prevalent in Bakalia, Akbarshah, and Double Mooring.
The CMP stated that the “S-Drive” will continue under the Police Commissioner’s orders to ensure public safety ahead of Ramadan and Eid.
