6,000 yaba pills seized from car bearing Home Ministry sticker, three arrested

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) on Wednesday arrested three people with 6,000 pills of yaba from a private car in Ramu, Cox’s Bazar.

DNC officials intercepted the vehicle, which was displaying a Ministry of Home Affairs sticker, during a special operation at around 7:30 am on the Chattogram–Cox's Bazar Highway in the Rubber Garden area of Ramu.

Those arrested were Sabbir Hossain (36) of Chauddagram in Cumilla, Sima Islam (22) of Rupganj in Narayanganj, and Urmi Akter Usha (18) of Dhaka's Darussalam area.

The DNC said its officials launched the operation based on a tip-off and stopped a white Toyota C-HR displaying a Ministry of Home Affairs sticker. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 6,000 yaba tablets concealed in three tape-wrapped packages.

The vehicle was seized, while four smartphones, the car's registration documents, fitness certificate, and tax token were also confiscated.

Somen Mondal, deputy director of the DNC's Cox's Bazar office said Inspector Mohammad Mizanur Rahman had filed a case under the Narcotics Control Act with Ramu Police Station against the three.

Mondal said investigators were probing whether others were involved in the alleged smuggling operation and how the vehicle came to display a Ministry of Home Affairs sticker. 

He said the use of a government ministry sticker in connection with the alleged drug trafficking is "deeply concerning."