Yaba Factory Found Inside Gazipur Home

Officers from the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) have uncovered a clandestine yaba manufacturing facility operating inside a residential property in Gazipur, seizing 4,500 tablets along with substantial quantities of raw materials and production equipment. A 32-year-old man, Touhidul Islam, has been arrested in connection with the operation.

The suspect, a resident of the Borobari Kazibari East Para এলাকায় under Gazipur Chowrasta Police Station, was detained following an overnight raid conducted between 19 February and the early hours of 20 February. Acting on confidential intelligence, officers from the DNC’s Dhaka Divisional Intelligence Office searched House No. 24/A in the Borobari area and discovered what officials described as a fully functional mini-laboratory concealed within an ordinary living space.

Mehedi Hasan, Deputy Director of the Dhaka Divisional Intelligence Office, said investigators were initially surprised by the sophistication of the setup. “It was not merely a room,” he explained. “It had effectively been converted into a laboratory, complete with equipment for mixing chemicals and pressing tablets.”

During the initial search, officers recovered 100 yaba tablets from two zip-sealed plastic packets. A further search of 22 stored packets yielded an additional 4,400 tablets, bringing the total to 4,500. The combined weight of the seized tablets was 489 grams.

Seized Materials and Equipment

Preliminary interrogation suggests that the residence had been functioning as a small-scale production centre. Investigators believe that part of the precursor chemicals used in manufacturing yaba was sourced from Myanmar, while other materials were procured from local markets. Officials estimate that the confiscated raw materials could have produced at least 20,000 additional tablets.

Authorities further allege that when supplies of precursor chemicals ran low, the suspect would grind down approximately 500 yaba tablets and reprocess the substance to produce up to 5,000 new tablets, thereby artificially inflating output and profitability.

A case has been filed under the relevant provisions of the Narcotics Control Act, 2018 at Tongi Police Station. Sub-Inspector Md Abu Naser is the complainant in the case.

The DNC has indicated that further operations are under way to identify and apprehend other individuals linked to the manufacturing and distribution network. Officials warn that the establishment of such laboratories in residential areas poses significant public safety risks, including potential chemical hazards and increased drug availability within urban communities.

The seizure underscores growing concerns about the decentralisation of yaba production and distribution within Bangladesh, with enforcement agencies intensifying surveillance efforts to dismantle emerging domestic manufacturing hubs.