Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have foiled a major cross-border narcotics trafficking attempt along the Myanmar frontier, seizing 350,000 Yaba pills and arresting two suspected smugglers in the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar.
The interception took place during an early-morning operation in the Jorakathi area of Ulubuniya village, situated within the Hwaykong Union of Teknaf Upazila. Lieutenant Colonel Zohirul Islam, Commanding Officer of the 64 BGB Battalion (Ukhiya), formally confirmed the seizure and subsequent arrests on Monday afternoon, 10 August.
Law enforcement officers identified the suspects as Nur Bashar, 22, son of the late Syed Alam from Katakhali Hatimara, and Abul Fayez, 25, son of Ali Akbar from Ulubuniya village.
Dawn Patrol Ambush and Narcotics Seizure
The drive was launched following intelligence reports pointing to active trafficking movement along key border points. In response, a tactical patrol team from the Palongkhali Border Outpost (BOP), operating under the 64 BGB Battalion, set up a strategic surveillance position inside Bangladeshi territory at Jorakathi.
At daybreak, guards spotted two men advancing into Bangladesh from the Myanmar border, carrying heavy packages. When BGB personnel challenged the suspects, both individuals attempted to run into nearby foliage. However, pursuing officers quickly surrounded and detained them.
A search of their bags revealed 35 blue-coloured cartons packed tightly within khaki-wrapped bundles. On inspection, officers recovered 350,000 Yaba tablets—a potent synthetic mix of methamphetamine and caffeine heavily targeted by regional anti-narcotics forces.
During initial questioning at the scene, both suspects reportedly admitted that they had purchased the consignment directly from contacts in Myanmar. They disclosed plans to move the drugs into urban wholesale markets across Bangladesh to sell them at inflated rates.
Intensified Surveillance Across Frontier Corridors
Lieutenant Colonel Zohirul Islam noted that military intelligence and field surveillance along the south-eastern border have been stepped up to identify local handlers and disrupt cross-border syndicates. Both suspects have been handed over to the local police station alongside the seized contraband, with formal criminal proceedings now underway.
The frontier belt of Cox’s Bazar, especially the Teknaf and Ukhiya regions bordering the Naf River, serves as a primary transit corridor for drug cartels smuggling synthetic narcotics out of Myanmar. Despite frequent riverine patrols and heightened border security, trafficking networks continually attempt to navigate the porous terrain, prompting BGB officials to reaffirm their zero-tolerance stance against cross-border drug operations.
