India, Bangladesh to crack down on drug smuggling gangs

The decision was taken recently during the Director General-level talks held between Indian Narcotics Control Bureau and the Department of Narcotics Control of Bangladesh.

The two countries, according to sources, also exchanged data on the activities of some syndicates active along the open border smuggling drugs like 'Speed', 'Ecstasy' and the common cough syrup 'Phensedyl', which are transported from India to Bangladesh to be used as a stimulant.

Both the countries, during their recent meet in Delhi, had expressed concern over the increasing trend of smuggling of synthetic drugs across the Indo-Bangla border.

The agencies have also decided to share actionable intelligence and information regarding these drugs, produced cheaply in laboratories.

According to official data, the smuggling of synthetic drugs, also known as Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS), has seen an increase as security agencies seized 85,498 ampules of the contraband this year against 75,857 ampules last year.

A joint mechanism has also been set up to identify a number of vulnerable smuggling points along the border for increased vigil.