Major Drugs Bust in Barlekha: 4,000 Yaba Tablets Seized

In a significant blow to local narcotics trafficking, police in Barlekha, Moulvibazar, intercepted a major shipment of illegal stimulants on Wednesday evening. The operation resulted in the arrest of a 26-year-old man and the recovery of a substantial quantity of Yaba—a potent and illicit mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine.

The Operation and Arrest

Acting on a specific intelligence lead regarding a large narcotics consignment, a specialized team from Barlekha Police Station launched a targeted raid. The operation was conducted under the direct supervision of Officer-in-Charge (OC) Moniruzzaman Khan.

At approximately 7:45 PM, officers moved in on a location near the Purbo Gaziteka Mosque within the Barlekha municipality. The suspect, identified as Mahmud Hasan Russell, son of Reaz Uddin from the BOC Keshrygul (Middle Dimai) village, was apprehended at the scene.

During a thorough search, police discovered 4,000 Yaba tablets meticulously organized into 20 separate packets. While Russell was taken into custody, two of his accomplices managed to evade capture, fleeing the scene as the police tightened their perimeter.

Seized Assets and Legal Action

In addition to the narcotics, law enforcement officials seized several items used to facilitate the trade:

• A Hero motorcycle (unregistered), believed to be the primary transport for the delivery.

• A Redmi smartphone, which is currently being analyzed for evidence of further distribution networks.

The estimated street value of the confiscated drugs is approximately £8,000 (1.2 million BDT).

Key Details of the Narcotics Seizure

Ongoing Investigation

The police team involved in the successful raid included Sub-Inspector Sheikh Kamrul Islam, along with Assistant Sub-Inspectors Fazle Azim, Santosh Kumar Biswas, and Sultan Ahmad.

OC Moniruzzaman Khan confirmed that the two suspects who fled have already been identified based on information provided by the detainee. “A case is currently being processed under the Narcotics Control Act,” the Officer-in-Charge stated, emphasizing that operations will continue until the remaining members of the syndicate are behind bars. This arrest marks a critical step in the regional authorities’ ongoing efforts to curb the rising influence of synthetic drugs in the area.