Two Rohingya Women Held With 60,000 Yaba Tablets

Two Rohingya women have been arrested in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, after members of the Bangladesh Coast Guard seized 60,000 yaba tablets during a special anti-narcotics operation, authorities said.

The suspects were identified as Rokeya Khatun, 39, and Yasmin, 31, both residents of Rohingya Camp No. 27 in Teknaf. Law enforcement officials alleged that the pair were involved in drug trafficking activities and were carrying a large consignment of yaba at the time of their arrest.

The operation was conducted on Thursday afternoon in the Keruntoli area of Teknaf, a region that has long been regarded as a key transit point for narcotics smuggling due to its proximity to the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

Confirming the development, Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said members of the Teknaf Coast Guard Station carried out the raid at around 3:00 pm following intelligence information regarding suspected drug movement in the area.

Acting on the tip-off, Coast Guard personnel launched a targeted operation and monitored the location. During the raid, officers became suspicious of two women and conducted a search. The operation resulted in the recovery of approximately 60,000 yaba tablets, which authorities estimated to have a market value of around Tk30 million.

The women were immediately taken into custody, and the seized narcotics were confiscated as evidence.

Yaba, a tablet containing methamphetamine and caffeine, remains one of the most widely trafficked illicit drugs in Bangladesh. Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly identified the south-eastern border region, particularly areas surrounding Teknaf, as a major route used by organised trafficking networks to smuggle narcotics into the country.

Over the years, Bangladeshi authorities have intensified anti-drug operations in border districts, carrying out regular raids, surveillance activities and intelligence-led missions aimed at disrupting smuggling syndicates. Security agencies have frequently warned that drug trafficking continues to pose a significant threat to public health, social stability and law and order.

Teknaf occupies a strategically sensitive location along the frontier with Myanmar and has been at the centre of numerous anti-narcotics drives. The area is also home to several Rohingya refugee camps, where authorities have occasionally uncovered criminal networks involved in the trafficking of drugs, weapons and other contraband. However, law enforcement officials have consistently emphasised that criminal activities involve only a small fraction of the refugee population.

According to the Coast Guard, the latest seizure forms part of ongoing efforts to curb the flow of illegal narcotics and dismantle trafficking networks operating in the border region. Officials believe such operations are essential in preventing large quantities of drugs from reaching urban markets across the country.

Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said legal proceedings against the two detainees are currently under way. The suspects, along with the seized yaba tablets, are expected to be handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation and prosecution under the country’s narcotics laws.

The latest operation highlights the continued vigilance of security forces in Teknaf and underscores the government’s broader campaign against drug trafficking. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to maintaining pressure on smuggling networks and strengthening border security to prevent the illegal movement of narcotics into Bangladesh.