Authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka apprehended a passenger carrying 969 yaba tablets, the Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBN) confirmed on Sunday.
The individual, identified as Md. Nabi Hossain, 45, hails from Teknaf Upazila in the Cox’s Bazar district. He was intercepted while attempting to smuggle the drugs via the rectal route.
According to the APBN, the arrest took place after Hossain arrived in Dhaka on a Novoair domestic flight VQ922 from Cox’s Bazar around midday. Acting on a tip-off, police detained him on the paved road outside the car park of the airport’s domestic terminal. Upon questioning at the APBN office, Hossain admitted to concealing the yaba tablets internally. A subsequent X-ray examination conducted by the on-duty airport physician revealed three egg-shaped objects within his body.
Hossain was then transported to Kurmitola General Hospital in the capital, where under medical supervision, the three packets were successfully expelled naturally. Upon opening the packets, a total of 969 yaba tablets were recovered.
Preliminary interrogation indicated that Hossain has long been involved in the trafficking and sale of narcotics. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police Airport Police Station is in the process of filing a case against him under the Narcotics Control Act.
The following table summarises the key details of the incident:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name of suspect | Md. Nabi Hossain |
| Age | 45 years |
| Place of residence | Teknaf Upazila, Cox’s Bazar |
| Mode of smuggling | Internal concealment (rectal) |
| Number of yaba tablets | 969 |
| Flight details | Novoair domestic flight VQ922, Cox’s Bazar–Dhaka |
| Location of arrest | Outside car park, domestic terminal, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport |
| Medical procedure | X-ray detection; natural expulsion at Kurmitola General Hospital |
Commenting on the arrest, APBN Operational Commander Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mozammel Haque said, “We remain vigilant against any illegal activities, including drug trafficking, centred around the airport. Regular operations are conducted to suppress all types of criminal activity at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.”
This latest seizure underscores ongoing efforts by airport authorities to curb narcotics smuggling and highlights the persistent risks posed by internal concealment methods, which are increasingly being employed by traffickers.