‘Floating under water’: Record Tk42 crore worth of yaba seized in Teknaf

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Wednesday seized a record 14 lakh yaba tablets which were hidden under a boat near the Hnila border area of Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf. 

Two people were detained by the BGB on allegations of involvement. 

The BGB claims that the estimated street value of the recovered yaba is 42 crore taka. 

It is the country’s largest drug consignment. 

The last biggest seizure was around 10 lakh pieces back in April this year. 

Wednesday’s operation was conducted at around 12:30pm based on intelligence information in the area adjacent to the Hnila BOP switchgate by Ukhia Battalion (64 BGB), Lieutenant Colonel Md Zahirul Islam, commander of 64 BGB, told a press conference.

According to 64 BGB sources, surveillance was increased in the border area based on information that a large yaba consignment had been trying to enter Bangladesh from Myanmar for the past two weeks. 

For this purpose, alongside intelligence activities, drone- and technology-based surveillance and regular patrols were intensified.

According to the BGB, as part of this surveillance, attempts were made to smuggle two small consignments of yaba through the Abarang area of Hnila in Teknaf on September 3 and 4. 

At that time, three lakh yaba tablets and two people were detained.

After that, unable to facilitate smuggling at night, the smugglers changed their strategy. 

The BGB said an attempt was made on Wednesday afternoon to enter Bangladesh through the Hnila BOP switchgate area using a boat and smugglers disguised as fishermen. 

The BGB said when the movement of the boat appeared suspicious, a special patrol team, which had already taken up a strategic position, signalled the boat to stop.

When the people on the boat tried to flee, BGB members chased them and detained two people.

Later, a search of the boat initially found no drugs. 

However, BGB members spotted several lightly floating sacks in the water, tied to the boat with ropes. After recovering the sacks, they were searched and yaba wrapped in khaki-coloured packets was found.

According to the BGB, the recovered sacks contained 140 blue-coloured cartons. 

A total of 14 lakh yaba tablets were found in these cartons. 

According to the BGB, their estimated value is around 42 crore taka.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Zahirul Islam said BGB operations to stop drug smuggling along the border are continuing. 

According to BGB data, a total of 1 crore 43 lakh yaba tablets have been recovered in the Ukhia Battalion (64 BGB) area between January 1 to September 9 this year. 

During this period, 243 people were detained on allegations of involvement in drug smuggling.