Buried Yaba Cache Uncovered in Teknaf

A major consignment of illicit drugs concealed beneath the soil has been recovered during an anti-narcotics operation in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, underscoring the continuing scale and sophistication of drug trafficking along Bangladesh’s south-eastern frontier. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) confirmed that the haul, consisting of 100,000 yaba tablets, was unearthed from a plantation area following intelligence-led surveillance, while a young man alleged to have long-standing links with the drug trade was arrested at the scene.

According to RAB officials, the operation was carried out on Wednesday afternoon by a specialised team from RAB-15, acting on confidential intelligence. The team conducted the raid in the Noakhali Para area of Baharchhara Union, a locality situated close to the Teknaf–Cox’s Bazar Marine Drive. The area drew suspicion after operatives noticed unusual activity around a betel leaf plantation, prompting them to tighten their cordon and conduct a detailed search.

During the operation, RAB personnel detained 23-year-old Mohammad Hakim, a resident of Noakhali Para and the son of Nurul Islam. Initial questioning reportedly led Hakim to admit that a large quantity of yaba tablets had been buried underground within the plantation to evade detection. Acting on his information, RAB members excavated a specific spot and recovered ten packets wrapped in white polythene from beneath the soil.

RAB-15 Assistant Director A. M. Faruk stated that each packet contained 50 airtight zipper bags, with each bag holding 200 yaba tablets. The total recovery therefore amounted to 100,000 tablets of methamphetamine, a synthetic stimulant that remains one of the most trafficked narcotics in the region. In addition to the drugs, officers also seized an Android smartphone believed to have been used for coordinating drug transactions and communications within the trafficking network.

Law enforcement officials noted that Teknaf has long been regarded as a high-risk zone for narcotics smuggling due to its proximity to an international border, its rugged hilly terrain, and its easy access to sea routes. These geographical features have made the area particularly attractive to organised criminal syndicates. In recent months, traffickers have increasingly adopted the tactic of burying drugs underground to avoid routine patrols and searches, highlighting an evolving challenge for security forces.

RAB emphasised that sustained intelligence-based operations and continuous surveillance are central to countering such networks. Legal proceedings under the Narcotics Control Act are currently underway against the arrested suspect, while investigations continue to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate. Authorities have also indicated that monitoring and enforcement along the border will be further intensified in the coming period.

Operation at a Glance

RAB reiterated its commitment to building a drug-free society and dismantling trafficking rings operating in border regions, stating that similar operations will continue with increased vigour.