In a significant anti-narcotics operation in the early hours of Thursday, police in the Chattogram Metropolitan area arrested a bus passenger and recovered a large consignment of yaba tablets, intensifying ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking through inter-district transport routes.

Acting on intelligence-led surveillance and routine checkpoint monitoring, officers from Chattogram Metropolitan Police under Bakalia Police Station intercepted a long-distance passenger coach at the Shahid Basharuzzaman roundabout area at dawn on 9 April. The bus, operated by Green Line Paribahan on the Cox’s Bazar–Dhaka route, was stopped for a routine inspection when officers observed suspicious behaviour from one of the passengers.

The individual was identified as Md Sajjad Hossain, aged 36, son of Babul Hawladar, originally from the Mostafa Road area under Kotwali Police Station in Barishal Sadar. According to law enforcement officials, his nervous conduct prompted officers to carry out a more thorough search of his belongings.

During the inspection, police discovered 40,000 yaba tablets concealed inside his luggage. The contraband had allegedly been packed in a manner intended to evade detection during standard checks. Following the recovery, the suspect was immediately taken into custody and the narcotics were seized as evidence.

Police officials stated that preliminary investigations suggest the drugs may have been transported from border-adjacent regions, particularly the Cox’s Bazar corridor, which has long been identified as a key entry point for yaba smuggling into major urban centres such as Dhaka. Authorities believe public transport networks are frequently exploited by trafficking syndicates to move large consignments discreetly across the country.

Bakalia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Mohammad Solaiman confirmed that legal proceedings have been initiated against the accused under the Narcotics Control Act. He further emphasised that intensified surveillance operations are ongoing, especially on inter-district buses passing through known transit points.

Law enforcement agencies have reiterated their commitment to disrupting organised drug networks, noting that coordinated raids and routine inspections are part of a broader strategy to stem the flow of synthetic narcotics. Officials also indicated that further investigations are underway to determine whether the arrested individual is connected to a wider trafficking network or operating as an intermediary courier.

Arrest Summary

Authorities have confirmed that the investigation will continue to trace the origin of the seized narcotics and identify any accomplices involved in the smuggling operation.