Benapole((Jashore): Drug traffickers have become active again inside the Benapole land port of Jashore. Drug smuggling incidents are happening again by throwing dust in the eyes of the security agency Ansar, Armed Police Battalion, and private security agency Pima. Ordinary traders are terrified of harassment as safe trade is under threat.
Lastly, on Wednesday (October 23), around 11 pm, a case was filed at the Benapole Port Police Station against an unknown accused in a drug smuggling incident. This afternoon, Ansar members of the port's security personnel chased the smuggler at Gate No. 5 of the port and seized 49 bottles of Phensidyl. However, the smuggler managed to escape during this time. It is learned that the next step regarding the seized Phensidyl will be taken by the Narcotics Control Department.
Ansar PC Helaluzzaman, the security agency of Benapole Port, said that while patrolling the port, their security personnel saw suspects roaming around next to a truck. Later, when they were chased, they left a bag and fled. Later, 49 bottles of banned phensidyl were found in the bag. On the instructions of port officials, the phensidyl has been handed over to the Narcotics Control Department.
Meanwhile, 175 state-of-the-art CCTV cameras have been installed at the port to ensure port security and prevent smuggling. However, due to negligence in supervision, even though drug smuggling has been openly taking place inside the port, the concerned officials under the supervision of the CCTV cameras are failing to identify the criminals.
Azim Uddin Gazi, secretary of Benapole Truck Transport Union, said that smugglers sometimes stay in the port area with phensidyl in trucks carrying Indian goods, and sometimes on the border route. Later, they strategically place the phensidyl on the heads of Bangladeshi trucks carrying various goods. And the victims of harassment are drivers, importers and C&F traders. If the port ensures their security, drug smuggling will stop and the security of traders will be ensured.
Vice President of Benapole Import-Export Association Ujjal Biswas said that the port's 3 scanning machines have been broken for about 9 months. Due to which drugs are easily entering the port and then spreading inside the country through Bangladeshi trucks. The scanning machines need to be put into operation immediately.
It is worth noting that due to the breakdown of the security system of Benapole port, theft of the port's own assets is also happening. This week, two fingerprint machines installed in the port's DTM office were stolen. However, although the place is under CCTV cameras, the culprits have not been identified. However, in this theft, the port administration filed a complaint with the police alleging theft against members of the security agency PIMA.
Currently, there are 163 Ansar, 42 Armed Battalion Police and 129 employees of the private security agency PIMA for port security. In addition, 375 CCTV cameras have been installed around the entire port and at the goods entrance to monitor the round-the-clock commercial activities of the port. In addition, CCTV cameras of the government's intelligence agency are also monitoring trade.
Meanwhile, due to the weak security system at Benapole and Petrapole ports, on July 2, customs, BGB and police conducted a joint operation and recovered 99 bottles of Phensedyl from a truck carrying goods imported from India at the raw material yard of the port. On June 15, 2022, the Port Police searched a truck carrying Indian goods at the Benapole land port in Jashore and seized 749 bottles of Phensidyl, 186 kg of marijuana and banned medicines, cosmetics and fireworks. On January 13, 2021, customs authorities recovered a large quantity of Indian medicines and 200 bottles of Phensedyl from a truck carrying goods imported from India. In addition, many such shipments have remained undetected.
Benapole C&F Staff Association Secretary Sajedur Rahman said that if the port's CCTV cameras are regularly monitored and the port's security personnel work responsibly, it will be easier to stop the drug trade inside the port. Benapole Port Director (Traffic) Mamun Kabir Tarafdar said that there was no CCTV camera at the port where 49 bottles of Phensedyl were recovered. Therefore, it was not possible to identify the culprit. However, orders have been given to further strengthen the port's security system to avoid such incidents.