Bangladesh makes record USD 10.5 million drug bust

In a record drug bust, Bangladesh has seized 2.8 million methamphetamine tablets from Myanmar with a street value of around USD 10.5 million and arrested three persons as the country struggles to tackle the problem of drug abuse.
Contraband yaba tablets often referred to as 'horse drug' were seized in near simultaneous security clampdowns in the capital and northeastern port city of Chittagong.
Elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) called it the country's biggest-ever drug and arrested three suspected drug peddlers.
"One of the three is Ali Ahmed, who, we believe he is a top drug smuggler...This is the biggest seizure of yaba tablets in Bangladesh," RAB spokesman Major Maksudul Alam told newsmen.

Director general of Customs Intelligence Moinul Khan, told PTI that the estimated value of the seized volume of the tablets could be as high as Taka 84 crore or USD 10.5 million.
Yaba, which in Thai language means "crazy medicine" is administered to horses when pulling carts up steep hills and for other strenuous work while experts said it was made of methamphetamine and caffeine.

In recent years Bangladesh became a destination of Yaba, mainly smuggled from Myanmar, as it became popular sex stimulating drug among young people. Doctors say in the long-term it causes decline of cognitive functions.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police identified Bangladesh's southeastern borders with Teknaf was the main route for yaga smuggling which in recent years also sparked tensions on the frontiers with two paramilitary border forces mobilising extra troops there.

"Now the smugglers visibly prefer sea routes in view of intensified vigil on the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier," a BGB official said.
The seizure comes just months after Chittagong customs officials seized a shipment of cocaine mixed in sunflower oil weighing more than 60 kilogrammes.