A major drug interception on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highway has led to the recovery of 10,000 pieces of yaba tablets hidden ingeniously inside the rear bumper of a pickup truck, alongside the arrest of two alleged drug traffickers in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram.
The operation was conducted on Thursday morning at around 8:00 am in front of the Jungle Range office in Chunti union along the busy highway. Acting on confidential intelligence, Lohagara Police set up a checkpoint and began stopping and searching vehicles travelling from Cox’s Bazar towards Chattogram.
During the routine inspection, officers became suspicious of a white pickup truck. When signalled to stop, the vehicle initially complied, after which a detailed search was carried out. Police sources stated that the occupants appeared nervous during questioning, prompting a more intensive examination of the vehicle’s structure.
At one stage, the detained individuals admitted that narcotics were concealed within a specially modified compartment inside the rear bumper. Following their disclosure, officers dismantled the bumper and discovered five carefully wrapped packets made of white polyethylene. Each packet contained multiple layers of tissue wrapping, inside which a total of 10,000 yaba tablets were recovered.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that the concealment method was highly sophisticated, designed to evade standard roadside checks. The hidden cavity within the vehicle’s mechanical structure indicated prior planning and technical modification intended for long-distance drug transportation across districts.
Both suspects were arrested on the spot, and the pickup truck used in the smuggling operation was seized as evidence. Preliminary interrogation revealed their alleged involvement in organised drug trafficking activities operating along the coastal and border routes.
Details of the arrested suspects
| Name | Age | Address | Father’s Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Md Monir Hossain | 39 | Ghunabati Union, Khatra Village, Chauddagram, Cumilla | Ali Hossain |
| Riadul Islam | 30 | South Kolatoli, Jhilongja, Cox’s Bazar Municipality | Saleh Ahmad |
A senior officer from Lohagara Police Station stated that the operation was part of intensified surveillance along the highway network, which is frequently exploited by drug syndicates for smuggling yaba tablets from border regions into inland districts. He added that the use of concealed mechanical compartments in vehicles reflects a growing trend among traffickers attempting to bypass routine inspections.
A case has been filed under the Narcotics Control Act, and both detainees have been sent to court. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to strengthening intelligence-led policing, increasing highway monitoring, and dismantling organised drug networks operating in the region.
Local residents have welcomed the successful operation, expressing hope that continued strict enforcement will help reduce drug circulation and protect young people from the growing threat of narcotics abuse.
The incident has once again highlighted the persistent challenge of drug trafficking through southern transport corridors, prompting renewed calls for sustained vigilance by law enforcement agencies.