Ukhiya, July 8 (V7N) – Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has recovered 1 lakh pieces of yaba tablets worth approximately Tk 3 crore during an anti-smuggling operation in Teknaf’s border area with Myanmar. However, the suspected trafficker managed to escape during the raid.
 
Lieutenant Colonel Jasim Uddin, commander of Ukhiya Battalion (64 BGB), confirmed the seizure on Monday night. Acting on a tip-off, a special patrol team under the Whykong Border Outpost (BOP) of the 64 BGB conducted the operation on Sunday, July 7, near border pillar 18, approximately 1.5 kilometers inside Bangladesh, in the Kharingyaghona-2 area of Teknaf.
 
At around 7:30 PM, the patrol team spotted a man entering Bangladesh from Myanmar. When challenged, the suspected smuggler fled the scene, taking advantage of the difficult terrain and cover of darkness.
 
Subsequent searches of the area led to the recovery of a large consignment of yaba pills — a methamphetamine-based drug smuggled widely from Myanmar into Bangladesh. No other contraband or suspects were found after further searches of the area.
 
Lieutenant Colonel Jasim stated that intelligence operations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the trafficker. "We are committed to preventing drug trafficking along the border and bringing those responsible to justice," he said.
 
The seized yaba tablets are in the process of being submitted to the Teknaf Model Police Station as evidence, following the filing of a General Diary (GD).
 
Background & Context:
Yaba, a highly addictive methamphetamine and caffeine-based pill, is primarily smuggled into Bangladesh from Myanmar through various border points in Cox’s Bazar, particularly Teknaf. The coastal region remains a key hotspot for cross-border drug trafficking despite ongoing surveillance and repeated operations by BGB and law enforcement.
 
In recent years, Bangladesh has stepped up its crackdown on yaba trafficking due to its growing public health and security implications. Teknaf, which borders Myanmar’s Rakhine State, is a key route used by organized smuggling networks operating on both sides of the border.
 
Impact:
The recovery of such a large volume of yaba tablets once again underscores the persistence and scale of cross-border narcotics trafficking in the region. Authorities remain on high alert amid rising drug smuggling attempts, with continued efforts being made to strengthen border security and inter-agency coordination.
 
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