40 Arrested in Southeastern Bangladesh for Involvement in Drug Trafficking from Burma

Tun Tun
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Cox’sbazar: Bangladesh authorities arrested 40 people in the southeastern border district of Cox's Bazar near Burma in connection with drug trafficking during the eight month period from January to August, according to a report of the local authorities.

In eight months, the authorities also seized 18,000 yaba tablets from individuals who had smuggled the tablets from Burma to Bangladesh through several border points along the Naff River.

According to the report, most of the yaba traffickers were arrested at busy public areas like the jetty, markets, and bus station in Teknaf Town, opposite the Burmese town Maungdaw.

Among those arrested are both Burmese and Bangladeshi nationals.

A businessman from Teknaf told Narinjara yesterday over the phone that the number of people arrested in connection with yaba trafficking has increased recently in the Bangladesh border area after authorities began increasing law enforcement on the border.

Many ordinary people in the western border area of Burma have become involved in yaba trafficking after suffering from the economic crisis and chronic unemployment.

In Burma, the price of a standard yaba is 3,300 kyat, while a lower standard yaba fetches 2,000 kyat. However, in Bangladesh the prices for the same standard and lower standard tablets are 5,000 and 3,500 kyat respectively.

Narinjara