MEHERPUR, Nov 18: Unabated drug smuggling is taking place along borders in the district with increasing drug-pedlars.
Sometimes they are caught by RAB and joint forces. But conscious circles claim that this is a small part of the larger smuggling.
In the last one and a half months, 18 smugglers were arrested by the joint forces comprising BGB, RAB and police. During this time, 192 bottles of phensedyl, 93 kilogram hemp and Tk 2.56 lakh were recovered.
According to sources, drugs are being smuggled through various borders of Meherpur District. The smugglers used to follow the Gangni border routes for the drug smuggling.
Men and women have taken up the smuggling businesses in full swing. On November 7, the joint forces arrested four drug traffickers, including two women, in separate operations in Bhomradaha and Bhatpara colonies of Gangni, seizing 22 kg hemp and 17 bottles of phensedyl.
The arrested are Tilakjan of Bhagjot Village in Daulatpur Upazila in Kushtia District and Kohinur Begum of Munshiganj Village and van-drivers Intadul and Joynal Abedin.
On the same day, Bamondi Camp Police arrested a man Milan Saha with 4kg hemp from Bamondi Bazar in Gangni Upazila. On November 5, RAB arrested a drug trafficker Toufiq Molla, 27, in a raid in Tetulbaria Village of Gangni, recovering . 2.700 kg hemp.
On November 1, Gangni Police arrested Shamim alias Raju and Mominul with 5kg hemp from Garabaria Village. On October 31, joint forces recovered 40 bottles of phensedyl from a Kuakata-bound bus. On October 26, a team from Gangni RAB Camp arrested Ekhlach Mia from Baliaghat with 35 bottles of Phensedyl.
On October 19, BGB arrested Deepak with 11kg hemp from Ballabhpur in Mujibnagar. On October 18, police arrested a smuggler Likhon with 2kg hemp from Kathuli.
On October 13, RAB arrested Intajul and Anwar with 2kg hemp from the Gangni town. On October 8, RAB members arrested a smuggler Shariful with 5kg hemp from Saharbati Bazar in Gangni Upazila.
On October 3, RAB arrested Lalchad with 4kg hemp from Colonipara in Sadar Upazila. On September 27, RAB arrested a smuggler Rakib from his home in Dhala with 36kg hemp.
On September 20, joint forces arrested Ershad Ali and Abul Kalam Azad with 100 bottles of phensidyl from Terail Village. Abul Kalam Azad is an identified drug smuggler in the area.
It was learnt, traders used to buy drugs from India with cash. Currently, gold bars are also coming.
According to sources, the drug trading is done in three stages. A group crosses the border and brings drugs. They deliver them to agents. The agents sell these drugs through retailers from different centres.
Culprits remaining behind the scenes are using women and children from poor families.
Traffickers said, gold bars or other goods are thrown across the barbed wire from one side of the border. In return, drugs wrapped in tape are thrown across the other side over the barbed wire fence. They are collected at the prefixed time and stored in a house near the border.
Later on, depending on the situation, the drugs are sent to big cities in small quantities through various means.
The number of drug users has increased due to availability of drugs. Some of them are young men and women. Some of the conscious circles and the administration have claimed, they are the ones who are mainly arrested in the anti-drug campaign.
Many people are becoming addicted to drugs due to extramarital affair, separation, desire to live an ambitious life, and seeing various family problems. The issue of women's drug addiction does not come to light because they seek treatment through various doctors in secret. Many people do not open their lips on fear of shame.
Shirin Akhtar, assistant director of the District Narcotics Control Department, said, regular operations are conducted to eradicate drugs; it is not possible to arrest the masterminds involved in drugs; in these incidents, only people from the poor community, including easy-bike drivers, teenagers, unemployed youth, and others carrying drugs, are caught; apart from this, drug-addicts are arrested frequently; when the Narcotics Control Department files a case, the police investigate it; but they cannot find the main culprits of drug trafficking.
When contacted, Masuda Akter Khanam, PPM, Meherpur police superintendent (SP), said, the police are working to eradicate drugs; in addition to arresting traffickers, those involved in drugs have been kept under surveillance; police and joint forces have already recovered a few consignments of drugs and arrested drug traffickers.
The operation will continue, the SP added.
