Teknaf, Oct 09 (V7N) – Joint forces and the Coast Guard have seized 7.1 lakh yaba tablets and 21.5kg of heroin in separate operations in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar, officials said.
In one operation, 3 lakh yaba tablets were recovered after being buried underground in Jadimura area of Hnila Union. In another operation, the Coast Guard seized 4.1 lakh yaba tablets and 21.5kg of heroin from the sea near Saint Martin’s Island.
The joint forces conducted the first operation around 2:30am on Thursday following a tip-off in the Joara area near Jadimura Temple in Ward 9 of Hnila Union.
During a search of a keora plantation under a project reportedly belonging to local ward member Manzur, the forces recovered 3 lakh yaba tablets buried underground.
Drug traffickers fled under cover of darkness after sensing the presence of the joint forces, preventing any arrests. The seized yaba was handed over to Teknaf Police Station. A case is being processed to identify and prosecute those involved, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard conducted a special operation around 6am on Thursday in the Bangladesh-Myanmar international maritime boundary near Saint Martin’s Island.
Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said personnel signalled a suspicious motorised wooden boat to stop inside Bangladeshi waters.
Sensing the Coast Guard’s presence, those aboard the boat threw three sacks into the sea and fled towards Myanmar’s maritime boundary.
Coast Guard personnel later recovered the sacks from the sea and found 4.1 lakh yaba tablets and 21.5kg of heroin inside.
Legal proceedings regarding the seized drugs are underway, the Coast Guard said.
According to the Coast Guard, the estimated value of the seized drugs is around Tk 42 crore.
Officials said anti-drug and anti-smuggling operations in Teknaf would continue.
END/MSI/SMA/
