Ukhiya, Sept 18 (V7N) – Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has arrested two young men and seized 320,000 yaba tablets in two separate operations along the Ukhiya-Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar, officials said Thursday.

The operations were conducted by special patrol teams of the Ukhiya Battalion (64 BGB) at the Palongkhali and Whykong Border Outposts (BOPs) in the early morning and morning hours.

The arrested men were identified as Md Jonaet, 26, a resident of FDMN Camp-16 in Ukhiya, and Md Shafiul Alam, 18, from Morirgona area of Whykong Union in Teknaf.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Zahirul Islam, commander of 64 BGB, said a special patrol team from the Palongkhali BOP conducted an operation around 5:20am in the Pogarbullkhali area, north of the Palongkhali border water point, based on intelligence information.

According to BGB, its members spotted a man entering Bangladesh from Myanmar carrying two packages wrapped in a lungi. When the patrol team challenged him, he attempted to flee but was apprehended.

A search of the packages allegedly found in his possession led to the recovery of 310,000 yaba tablets packed in blue-coloured packages inside 31 cartons, BGB said.

In a separate operation at around 8am, a special patrol team from the Whykong BOP conducted a patrol in the Kerengoghona Post-1 area near the border.

BGB personnel reportedly became suspicious of a young man who was allegedly entering Bangladesh from the Myanmar side disguised as a fisherman and carrying a fishing net.

The man attempted to flee when challenged but was arrested. He was identified as Shafiul Alam.

A search of the fishing net he was carrying led to the recovery of 10,000 yaba tablets packed in a blue-coloured package inside a khaki-coloured carton, according to BGB. A mobile phone and the fishing net were also seized.

BGB said the two suspects allegedly admitted during preliminary questioning that they had collected the yaba from the Myanmar border and were transporting it into Bangladesh for sale at a higher price.

BGB said legal proceedings are being prepared against the two suspects under the relevant laws.

Lieutenant Colonel Zahirul Islam said intelligence surveillance had been strengthened to identify drug suppliers and people involved in cross-border smuggling.

“Anti-drug and anti-smuggling operations along the border will continue,” he said.

END/MSI/SMA/