Habiganj, Nov 14 (V7N) – The Special Response Battalion (SRB-9) has arrested three alleged drug dealers with 72 kilograms of cannabis in an operation in Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj district. A covered van allegedly used to transport the drugs was also seized.
The arrests were made around 2:10am on Friday (November 13) at a checkpoint set up on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway, west of Stadium Para in Madhabpur municipality.
According to the SRB-9 Shaistaganj camp, an intelligence tip-off indicated that a group was transporting cannabis from the Jagadishpur area of Madhabpur to Savar in Dhaka in a covered van. Acting on the information, an operational team established a checkpoint near Stadium Para.
When the suspected van was signalled to stop, three men got out and attempted to flee. The team subsequently detained them.
During preliminary questioning, the detainees admitted to possessing cannabis. A search of the van uncovered 72 kilograms of cannabis, packed in 36 packets inside three specially concealed cardboard boxes.
The arrestees were identified as Md Hask Mia, 29, son of Gedu Mia of Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria; Rakib Sardar, 23, son of the late Hanef Sardar of Pangkhar Char village in Kashiani upazila of Gopalganj; and Hasanur Zaman, 30, son of Md Dut Mia of Dakshin Surma area in Madhabpur upazila, Habiganj.
SRB sources said the detainees told investigators that they had jointly collected the cannabis from a border area and kept it in their possession for sale.
After completing the necessary preparations to file a case under relevant provisions of the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, the arrestees, along with the seized cannabis and covered van, were handed over to Madhabpur Police Station.
SRB-9 said intelligence activities and operations against drugs would continue as part of its zero-tolerance policy.
Madhabpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sohel Rana confirmed that SRB-9 had handed over the three men along with the cannabis. He said legal action would be taken against them.
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