Three Arrested in Chunarughat contraband Liquor and Cannabis Seizures

Three suspected drug traffickers have been apprehended following separate law enforcement operations in Chunarughat Upazila, Habiganj. The coordinated raids, executed by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-9), led to the recovery of 95 bottles of smuggled Indian liquor and 55 kilograms of cannabis.

The operations were carried out at different times on Saturday, 11 July 2026, amid an intensified regional crackdown on cross-border narcotics smuggling along the porous frontier with India.

According to border officials, the first seizure took place late on Saturday night in the Cheganagar Bazar area of Chunarughat. A specialised patrol team from the BGB’s 55th Battalion, stationed at the Balla Border Outpost (BOP), intercepted a CNG-run auto-rickshaw acting on intelligence reports. A meticulous search of the vehicle uncovered 95 bottles of Indian liquor artfully concealed within modified compartments.

Two individuals inside the vehicle were immediately arrested. The BGB identified the suspects as 26-year-old Mohammad Nurul Islam and 21-year-old Mohammad Suman Mia, both residents of Konagaon village within the upazila. The paramilitary force estimated the combined market value of the confiscated liquor and the seized auto-rickshaw to be approximately 800,000 Taka.

Earlier that day, a separate team from the Shayestaganj camp of RAB-9 launched an afternoon raid near the Satchhari National Park area. The operation yielded 55 kilograms of high-grade cannabis and led to the arrest of 32-year-old Mohammad Abdul Kaiyum, a resident of the neighbouring Bahubal Upazila. Satchhari National Park, with its dense forest cover and proximity to the international border, has historically posed significant surveillance challenges, making it a frequent corridor for illicit smuggling syndicates trying to move contraband into the interior districts.

Both the BGB and RAB confirmed that separate cases have been registered against the three detainees under the Narcotics Control Act at the Chunarughat Police Station. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the station, Shafiqul Islam, validated the filings and stated that subsequent formal legal proceedings are currently underway to ensure the suspects face judicial arraignment.