Habiganj, Sept. 19 (V7N) — Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a large quantity of drugs after chasing suspected smugglers along the Madhabpur border in Habiganj early Friday, officials said.
The smugglers fled the scene, abandoning several bags that were later found to contain 20 kilograms of cannabis and 270 bottles of Eskuf, a codeine-based cough syrup.
The operation was conducted by a patrol team of Sarail Battalion (25 BGB) at about 4:50 a.m. in the Jaynagar area of Madhabpur upazila.
According to BGB, acting on a tip-off, a patrol team from Dharmaghar Border Outpost took up a position about 150 yards inside Bangladesh from Border Pillar No. 1992/22-S.
At the time, 14 to 15 people were allegedly attempting to enter Bangladesh from the Indian side carrying bags. When the BGB patrol team pursued them, the suspected smugglers abandoned the bags and fled.
BGB personnel subsequently searched the bags and recovered the cannabis and Eskuf bottles, which had allegedly been concealed under polythene and paper.
BGB said the Habiganj Department of Narcotics Control had been informed about the seized Indian-origin drugs. The narcotics are being processed for transfer to the battalion headquarters for eventual destruction, officials said.
Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Jabbar, commander of Sarail Battalion (25 BGB), said BGB patrols and intelligence surveillance had been strengthened to maintain border security and prevent smuggling.
He said operations and intelligence activities against smuggling would continue along the border areas of Bijoynagar and Akhaura in Brahmanbaria, as well as Madhabpur in Habiganj.
END/MMA/SMA/
