Coast Guard Seizes 60,000 Yaba Tablets in Teknaf Raid

Two Rohingya women have been arrested in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, after members of the Bangladesh Coast Guard recovered 60,000 yaba tablets during a targeted anti-narcotics operation, authorities said. The seizure is one of the latest in a series of efforts by law enforcement agencies to curb the flow of illegal drugs through the country’s south-eastern border region.

The detainees were identified as Rokeya Khatun, 39, and Yasmin, 31, both residents of Rohingya Camp No. 27 in Teknaf. Officials alleged that the pair were involved in drug trafficking and were transporting a substantial consignment of yaba at the time of their arrest.

The operation was carried out on Thursday afternoon in the Keruntoli area of Teknaf following intelligence reports about suspected narcotics activity. According to Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, Media Officer of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, members of the Teknaf Coast Guard Station launched the special operation at around 3:00 pm based on confidential information.

Acting on the tip-off, Coast Guard personnel conducted surveillance and searched two women whose movements had aroused suspicion. During the operation, officers recovered approximately 60,000 yaba tablets, which authorities estimated to be worth around Tk30 million on the illicit market.

The suspects were taken into custody immediately, and the seized drugs were confiscated for further legal proceedings.

Yaba, a highly addictive stimulant tablet containing methamphetamine and caffeine, remains one of the most commonly trafficked narcotics in Bangladesh. The drug has been a major concern for law enforcement agencies due to its widespread distribution and the social and public health problems associated with its use.

Teknaf has long been regarded as one of the country’s most sensitive border areas in the fight against drug trafficking. Located near the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier, the region has frequently been identified as a transit route used by organised criminal networks to smuggle narcotics into Bangladesh. As a result, security forces regularly conduct intelligence-led operations aimed at intercepting drug shipments and dismantling trafficking syndicates.

Over recent years, authorities have intensified surveillance and enforcement activities in border districts, particularly in Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf, where numerous seizures of yaba, crystal methamphetamine and other illicit substances have been reported. Law enforcement agencies maintain that sustained operations are essential to disrupting supply chains and preventing narcotics from reaching major urban centres across the country.

The presence of large refugee settlements in the area has also added to the security challenges facing authorities. While isolated incidents involving individuals from refugee camps have been reported, officials have consistently stressed that criminal activity is confined to a small minority and should not be associated with the broader Rohingya population.

According to the Coast Guard, the latest seizure forms part of an ongoing nationwide campaign against drug trafficking and organised crime. Authorities believe the operation prevented a significant quantity of narcotics from entering local and national distribution networks.

Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said legal action against the two women is currently being processed in accordance with the country’s narcotics laws. The detainees and the recovered yaba tablets will be handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation and prosecution.

The latest operation underscores the continuing efforts of Bangladesh’s security agencies to strengthen border security and combat the illegal drug trade. Officials have reiterated their commitment to maintaining pressure on trafficking networks and taking firm action against those involved in the movement and distribution of narcotics.