About two years ago, the law enforcing agencies had declared war against drug traffickers across the country. At the beginning there were gunfights with the drug dealers and RAB. Then police joined the suit. ‘Big fishes’ of Yaba syndicates continue to be killed one by one. Stories of Yaba trafficking syndicate began to be unraveled.
According to the data, more than 400 drug dealers were killed in the gunfights with RAB and police across the country from April of 2018 to January of this year. Yet Yaba business has not stopped. Consumption and drug dealing is still unabated.
According to the Directorate of Narcotics Control, the number of drug seizures, arrests and cases has increased over the past two years. Even the number of patients coming to the drug treatment center was the highest in the last six years.
Meanwhile, the main route to reach Yaba in the country is the Teknaf border of Cox's Bazar. Last week, the top 21 Yaba traders surrendered to police at Teknaf Government College grounds in Cox's Bazar. Earlier, in February last year, 102 Yaba traders surrendered to the Home Minister. Law enforcement said the surrendered 123 Yaba traders were godfathers of various stages. Their names were also listed in the Home Ministry.
Despite all this, the law enforcers are not able to pull the reins of Yaba trade and its supply. Now the question is, if Godfathers had surrendered then who is bringing Yaba. And who are working behind it in disguise?
According to information gathered the drug traffickers, including Yaba, are now changing their tactics. Recently, women are being used for drug trafficking. Rohingya women in particular are being used for this purpose. Those who are caught are just peddlers. Newly born small Yaba traders are now playing the trafficking business. They are running millions of pips Yaba for greed for raw money. Day by day, these traders are becoming the godfather of Yaba.
According to information provided by law enforcement agencies, more than 3 crore Yaba have been recovered so far in the ongoing operation against Yaba. And 2 lakh Yaba traders were arrested across the country. Among them, the there were many small fries among the big fishes.
Several field-level officials of the law enforcement and drug control department have said that the drug should be eradicated and they are constantly trying to achieve that. All the traders, small and big, are being given equal importance.
When asked, Chittagong Range DIG Khandaker Ghulam Farooq told barta24.com, "We are not looking at who is a small business, who is a big businessman." We are taking legal action against those who are doing business.
The head of the intelligence department of RAB Lt. Colonel Sarwar Bin Qassem told barta24.com that the demand for the drug should be stopped first, the demand of drug, especially Yaba, should be stopped in the society. For this, social awareness must be created. Besides the RAB, the police, BGB, Coast Guard are all carrying operations against Yaba. But until social awareness can be created - the Yaba trade will be difficult to pull off.
Assistant Inspector General of Police Headquarters (Media) Md. Sohail Rana told barta24.com that the overall drug elimination situation in the country has been "greatly improved" by the ongoing anti-drug operation. The spread of drugs has reduced along with the increase of public awareness.