A 25-year-old motorcyclist was arrested after traffic police allegedly recovered 10 packets of cannabis from a bag during a routine checkpoint operation in Dhaka’s Dayaganj area on Wednesday.
The incident took place at a traffic police checkpoint on the left side of the Dayaganj intersection, where members of the Wari traffic division were carrying out routine checks on vehicles and their documents.
According to police, officers stationed at the checkpoint were stopping vehicles as part of their regular duties and examining the necessary papers of drivers and vehicles. At one point, they stopped a motorcycle ridden by a man identified as Shishir, 25, and checked its documents.
The officers subsequently searched a bag that was reportedly being carried by Shishir. During the search, they allegedly found 10 small packets of cannabis inside a blue card holder kept in the bag.
Police said the seized cannabis and the motorcycle were taken into custody, while Shishir was handed over to Gendaria Police Station for further legal proceedings.
Niaz Mehedi, additional deputy commissioner of the media and public relations division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed the incident. He said the recovery was made while traffic officers were conducting routine checks on vehicles and drivers at the Dayaganj checkpoint.
The recovery highlights how routine traffic inspections can sometimes lead to the detection of suspected offences beyond road and vehicle-related violations. Traffic checkpoints in different parts of the capital are used primarily to verify vehicle documents and ensure compliance with traffic regulations. Where circumstances warrant, officers may also conduct searches in accordance with applicable procedures.
Police said legal action was being initiated against Shishir under the Narcotics Control Act in connection with the recovery. The seized substance will form part of the legal proceedings as the authorities process the case.
However, police did not immediately provide details about where Shishir had allegedly obtained the cannabis or where he was taking it. It was also not immediately clear whether anyone else was involved in the incident.
Following the arrest, Shishir was transferred to Gendaria Police Station along with the recovered cannabis and motorcycle. Further legal proceedings are now under way.
The incident occurred during a routine checkpoint operation rather than a specifically announced anti-narcotics drive, according to the information provided by police. Authorities have yet to disclose further details about the circumstances surrounding the suspected possession of the cannabis or any findings from subsequent investigation.
