Most of the drug lords still remain out of reach as the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) could not capture them in its operations except for arresting some small narcotics dealers.
During its recent operations, the DNC has detained some small ‘drug traders’ and brought them under legal proceedings, but it made little headway in capturing the big fishes.
The newly detained suspects are being charged with bailable offences, raising a question as to whether the anti-narcotics operations are genuine or mere window-dressing.
Sources said the DNC, in its recent raids, arrested a few small drug dealers, branding them as key figures.
Officials concerned said that drug kingpins and their associates went into hiding soon after the announcement of joint operation against illegal arms and drugs on September 4.
Critics say that the DNC through this early announcement allowed the drug dealers to escape.
When contacted, Tanvir Momtaz, the director of operations at the DNC, gave vague reason for failure to nab the drug lords, saying, “Our investigation team is monitoring the situation.”
In a raid on September 18, a top-listed drug dealer identified as Ranjit Sarker was arrested in Netrakona with 500 grams of cannabis. He was caught along with alleged drug godfather Kabir. Fifty pieces of Yaba was also found in Kabir’s possession.
During an operation led by a task force in Cumilla under the supervision of Burichong Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahida Akter and DNC’s Deputy Director Chowdhury Imrul Hasan, 105 pieces of Yaba and Tk 109,150 in cash was found in the house of drug kingpin Manik Mia.
The DNC, Bangladesh Army, RAB, and police forces, in a joint drive detained two godfathers from the Dhaka Metro North Office in the capital. Fifty pieces of Yaba and 200 grams of cannabis were also
notorious drug dealer, Kalu alias ‘Daat Bhanga Kalu,’ and his three associates were nabbed at Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur on September 21. During the raid, 105 Yaba tablets and 100 grams of cannabis were recovered a nearby place.
Despite these arrests, many alleged that DNC seizes only small quantities of drugs but label the arrestees as drug kingpins.
When asked about the matter, DNC Director General Khondoker Mostafizur Rahman said, “We will take action if any evidence of such thing is found.”
Sources said drugs are entering the country through land, sea, and air routes. There are coordination gaps among the law enforcement agencies responsible for these routes.
Allegations are rife that some corrupt officials within these agencies are involved in drug smuggling, maintaining link with the drug lords, which hinders efforts to curb drug trafficking.
Recently, Home Affairs Advisor Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at a briefing at the DNC headquarters said the operations should not only the target drug carriers but also the masterminds.
He also stressed the need to intensifying the ongoing joint operations and provide daily progress reports.
Criminologists and specialists said that the drug smuggling cannot be checked without the commitment of responsible officials and members of the law enforcement agencies.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is also of the view that drug smuggling cannot be prevented without their cooperation.
In 2018, the DNC compiled a list of 141 drug lords and submitted it to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). However, most of them remain out of reach for mysterious reasons.
The DNC’s annual report indicates that between 2022 and July 2023, at least 50,000 drug addicts sought their rehabilitation. The number of women seeking treatment has increased fivefold over five years, while the number of addicts aged 15 and below has tripled to 47,376.
Over the past decade and a half, new drugs such as LSD, brownies, ice (crystal meth), and MDMA have become popular among the users in Bangladesh.
Over the past 15 years, only seven out of the 30 types of drugs identified in the country have been seized. The value of these drugs is around Tk 19,000 crore.
Experts, however, said that the seizure amounts for 20-25 percent of the total amount of drugs circulating in the country.
n the last year alone, 97,241 drug-related cases have been filed involving 120,287 people. Despite this huge number, the DNC says that only a small quantity of illicit drugs are being seized.
Bangladesh Bank data indicates that in the past five years, the number of millionaires in the country has increased to 30,000, many of whom do not have visible sources of income. These individuals live in luxury homes and have expensive cars.
The DNC, alongside other agencies, is investigating the source of these individuals’ wealth. Four such cases have been identified and they are facing charges under the anti-money laundering act.
