Cox’s Bazar, Oct 05 (V7N) – Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized 5.2 lakh yaba tablets in separate operations along the Tumbru border in Bandarban’s Naikhongchhari and the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar, arresting two suspected drug traffickers.

The operations were conducted on Saturday night and early Sunday, while no one was arrested in connection with the yaba seizure at the Tumbru border.

According to BGB, a special patrol team of 64 BGB conducted an operation at Jia Khal in the Jhimongkhali border area of Hoaykhang Union in Teknaf around 9:10pm on Saturday.

The patrol team intercepted two suspected individuals entering Bangladesh through the border carrying two bags. A search of the bags led to the recovery of 1 lakh yaba tablets.

The detainees were identified as Md Sohel Rana, 21, son of Nur Mohammad, and Md Mamun, 21, son of Abdur Rahim, both from Jhimongkhali village in Hnila Union.

In a separate operation, 34 BGB recovered another 4.2 lakh yaba tablets from the Nayapara area of the Tumbru border in Naikhongchhari around 4:30am on Sunday.

Acting on intelligence information, a special patrol team from Tumbru Border Outpost took position about 100 yards inside Bangladesh from the border.

BGB personnel detected the movement of several suspected individuals using a thermal imaging device. When the patrol team chased them, the suspects abandoned their belongings and fled into Myanmar through darkness and water.

A subsequent search of the area led to the recovery of three bags wrapped in lungis containing 4.2 lakh yaba tablets.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Zahirul Islam, commanding officer of 64 BGB, said intelligence surveillance had been strengthened to identify people involved in drug trafficking and smuggling and bring them to justice.

He said cases had been filed against the two detainees under the Narcotics Control Act and they had been handed over to police.

Lieutenant Colonel S M Kairul Alam, commanding officer of 34 BGB, said further legal action was underway regarding the seized yaba tablets.

He said BGB operations would continue to prevent the entry of drugs and other illegal goods through the border.

END/MSI/SMA/