In a significant crackdown on regional drug trafficking, the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) intercepted a major consignment of illicit substances in the Kendua Upazila of Netrakona. The operation, conducted on Tuesday, 10 March, resulted in the seizure of 30 kilograms of high-grade cannabis and the apprehension of four suspected traffickers.
The Interception at Perir Mor
Acting on a discrete intelligence lead, a specialised team led by Md. Nazmul Haque, Assistant Director of the Netrakona District DNC, established a strategic checkpoint at the Perir Mor intersection in the Sandikona Union. The location, situated along the vital Kendua–Atharabari highway, is known as a transit point for goods moving between the Sylhet and Mymensingh divisions.
At approximately 4:00 pm, officers flagged down a suspicious CNG-powered auto-rickshaw. Upon a meticulous forensic sweep of the vehicle, the team discovered the narcotics ingeniously concealed within a modified compartment adjacent to the engine bay. The recovered haul, weighing exactly 30kg, has an estimated black-market valuation of approximately £6,500 (BDT 9 lakh).
Suspect Profiles and Legal Proceedings
The four individuals taken into custody hail from diverse districts, suggesting a well-coordinated inter-district smuggling network. The suspects have been identified as:
| Name | Age | District of Origin | Upazila |
|---|---|---|---|
| Md. Kabir | 34 | Brahmanbaria | Bijoynagar |
| Md. Sohag Mia | 28 | Habiganj | Madhabpur |
| Md. Ripon Mia | 40 | Mymensingh | Gauripur |
| Md. Monirul Islam | 22 | Brahmanbaria | Bijoynagar |
Following the seizure, the CNG auto-rickshaw used for transporting the contraband was impounded as evidence. Inspector Md. Al-Amin of the DNC has since filed a formal case at the Kendua Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act.
A Growing Enforcement Trend
Assistant Director Md. Nazmul Haque confirmed that the suspects were being held in custody and were scheduled to be produced before the Netrakona District Court on Wednesday morning. He emphasised that the DNC has intensified its surveillance along the “eastern corridor” of the country, where porous border areas in Brahmanbaria and Habiganj often serve as gateways for narcotics entering central Bangladesh.
This successful raid is viewed by local authorities as a vital disruption to the supply chain of “Ganja” (cannabis) heading toward the capital. Community leaders in Kendua have praised the DNC’s proactiveness, noting that such visible enforcement is essential to curbing the rising influence of drug syndicates in rural townships.
