24 nabbed in anti-drug, crime crackdown in two districts

Twenty-four people were arrested in separate anti-drug and anti-crime crackdowns in Naogaon District and Patharghata Upazila of Barguna District on Thursday.

NAOGAON: Police arrested three people during a special anti-drug and juvenile crime operation in Chakuli Village of Kashopara Union in Manda Upazila of the district on Thursday night, recovering three locally made weapons, sedative tablets, distilled liquor and cash.

The arrestees are Islam Babu, 21, and Shawon, 19, sons of late Ashraful Islam of Chakuli Village, and Arif Hossain, 23, son of Manzur Ahmed of Shutkibadal Village.

Naogaon Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammad Tarikul Islam confirmed the arrests on Friday afternoon.

According to police, the operation was conducted on a tip-off under the direction of Tarikul Islam and led by Afzal, Officer-in-Charge of Manda Police Station.

Officers seized two automatic, long-bladed Burmese knives. They also recovered a double-bladed tomahawk, described as a Chinese double-headed tactical axe, concealed in a pit inside a residence.

The operation also yielded 60 tapentadol tablets, 200 litres of illicitly distilled liquor and Tk 73,050 in cash believed to have come from drug sales.

SP Tarikul Islam said narcotics and arms cases have been filed against the arrestees. 

PATHARGHATA, BARGUNA: Police detained 21 people, including six teenagers aged 14 to 16, during a four-hour anti-drug and anti-teen-gang operation in Patharghata Municipality of the district on Thursday. Officers also seized nine motorcycles after their owners failed to produce the required documents on the spot.

The operation ran from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm across several areas of the municipality under the leadership of Shahed Ahmed Chowdhury, Additional SP (Patharghata Circle). 

Police are verifying the detainees’ identities and possible links to criminal activities, while checking the seized motorcycles’ documents.

Officer-in-Charge of Patharghata Police Station Abdul Alim said authorities had recently observed increased activity by teen gangs in the area. He said special operations would continue to curb drugs, gang activity and other crimes and maintain public safety.