The country's drug trafficking syndicates are still active under the direct patronage of politicians mainly belonging to the ruling party and the law enforcers. Most of the government listed drug traffickers have, so far, dogged the anti-drug crackdown, it was learnt.
None of the officially named 'godfathers' of Yaba trade have either been killed or arrested in drives conducted by the law enforcers. Although 205 alleged drug peddlers have so far been killed in the nationwide anti-drug crackdown that began in May to wipe out the menace.
At least 35,112 people were arrested and 27,343 cases filed but a number of ruling Awami League leaders and their influential friends, who are known as 'godfathers' of Yaba smuggling escaped the drag net.
Five separate law enforcers including the police headquarters have prepared a list of 26,299 drug dealers and patrons countrywide. Police HQs sent the list to every District Superintendant of Police (SP). The Police HQs also ordered police officials to take action against the listed persons.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) also prepared a separate list of 25,337 drug dealers and patrons. The Rapid Action Battalions (RAB) listed 3,600 drug dealers and patrons. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) named 89 drug dealers and patrons countrywide.
Many of the listed persons including ruling party leaders wrote to the Prime Minister's Office, Home Ministry and Police Headquarters to drop their names from the list of 26,299 drug dealers and patrons.
A high ranking intelligence official told the Daily Observer that the drug dons allegedly spend crores of taka to buy the silence and protection of the law enforcement officials and the ruling party men.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ordered the intelligence officers to crack
down on them with no mercy or leniency.
"Show no mercy even if the offender is from the ruling party (Awami League)," she said. The Prime Minister declared a 'zero tolerance' policy against trade and use of illegal drugs.
Meanwhile, police are yet to take action to break the drug trafficking syndicates. Police sources said extreme action is not possible as a vital portion of the ruling party men and the law enforcers have become involved in drug business.
To protect high-value and high-risk drug consignments, official emblems, official vehicles and even officials themselves are pressed into service of the drug trafficking syndicates.
A joint investigation by several intelligence agencies has found that drug smuggling in Bangladesh is run by over 1,200 godfathers of whom at least 87 are Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League and Sramik League leaders, who provide protection to drug traffickers in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi divisions.
The Department of Narcotics Control uses this list to conduct anti-narcotics operations and as a basis for further investigation. Leaders of the Awami League and its associate bodies allegedly pocket crores of taka by using their political influence to back drug traffickers.
The intelligence report said several leaders of associate bodies of the ruling party control the narcotics trade in the capital.
Law enforcers have not been able to arrest a listed drug dealer or peddler in bordering Teknaf through which Yaba and other narcotic drugs reportedly come into the country. The Home Ministry has recently identified 60 top drug dealers and 1,151 drug peddlers. Most of them are from Teknaf in Cox's Bazar.
Civil society members have expressed surprise at the failure of the law enforcers to round up listed drug traders. Yaba smuggling is continuing unabated on the Teknaf border, said sources in the BGB.
It is learnt from different sources that a large number of drug dealers have fled to Myanmar through Teknaf. Police said they are desperate to nab the listed drug dealers, but they (dealers) skillfully evade arrest.
A DMP officer said their regular drive is on and they are arresting users, sellers and buyers.
DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah said they have been conducting drives targeting listed drug spots in the capital and picking up those with narcotics.
