Three Arrested with 42,000 Yaba Pills

Authorities in Cox’s Bazar have intercepted a significant narcotics consignment after border guards seized 42,000 yaba tablets concealed in a private car, leading to the arrest of three alleged drug traffickers, including two young women.

The operation was conducted in the early hours of Friday (10 April) at an improvised checkpoint in Shilkhali, Teknaf. Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) from the 64th Battalion stopped a private vehicle travelling from Teknaf towards Cox’s Bazar at approximately 3:25 a.m. during a routine inspection that quickly escalated into a major drug bust.

According to BGB officials, the vehicle was searched thoroughly after initial suspicion was raised. During the inspection, officers discovered 21 specially prepared packets hidden inside the fuel tank of the car. The packets contained a total of around 42,000 pieces of yaba tablets, a highly addictive synthetic drug widely trafficked through the region.

Alongside the narcotics, the authorities also seized the private car used for transportation and three Android mobile phones, which are believed to have been used for coordinating the trafficking operation.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Md Masud Sharif (22), son of the late Habibur Rahman from North Para (Ward 8) in Teknaf Police Station area; Mosa. Beauty (27), daughter of the late Shafikul Islam from Samitipara in Cox’s Bazar Sadar; and Mosa. Mahim (19), daughter of the late Abdul Rashid from the same locality.

Preliminary interrogation suggests that the group collected the yaba tablets from Teknaf and intended to transport them to Cox’s Bazar for distribution at a significantly higher price, highlighting the continued profitability and organised nature of cross-border narcotics trafficking networks operating in the region.

A senior official from BGB-64 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Md Zahirul Islam, confirmed the seizure and arrests, noting that intelligence monitoring has been intensified to identify other members of the wider trafficking network. He added that further investigations are underway to dismantle the broader supply chain behind the operation.

The arrested suspects, along with the seized items, will be handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station after completion of formal legal procedures.

Arrested Individuals and Seizures

Seized Items:

• Approximately 42,000 yaba tablets
• One private car used for transport
• Three Android mobile phones