By Tun Kyaw, Dhaka: Bangladesh is increasingly being used as a transit point by drug dealers and the drug mafia, which is dispatching heroin and opium from Burma and other countries of the golden triangle to different destinations. This is largely because Bangladesh’s Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) is badly under staffed and ill equipped to clamp down on the drug trade.

Burma produces as much as 70 per cent of the heroin and opium and is the second highest producer of drugs which enter Bangladesh through the porous, hilly border and riverine routes for onward distribution to different countries of the region, according to sources.

Burma, Vietnam and Laos - the golden triangle - near Bangladesh, and on the western front, the hilly areas of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, are known as heroin producing countries.

Heroin and opium also enter Bangladesh through different points from India, Nepal and Bhutan, the sources said.

Available statistics says Afghanistan tops the list of heroin and opium producing countries followed by Myanmar and Laos in the second and third positions.

Of the total illegal narcotic and drug trade and transit through Bangladesh, DNC and other law enforcing agencies, including the police and Rapid Action Battalion ( RAB) are able to detect only 30 per cent, while the bulk - 70 per cent - passes undetected.

The Director (Operations) of DNC said that due to its geographic location, Bangladesh has become the transit route of illegal drug trade.

The international illegal drug syndicates change their modus operandi almost instantly when their contraband goods are seized by the law enforcing agencies, he said. They also change their routes and the system of carriage making it extremely difficult for DNC members to detect their movements.

Meanwhile another official of the department said that a total of 7,881 kilograms of heroin, 25,961 bottles of contraband Indian Phensidyl syrup, 240 kilograms of cannabis, 49 of cannabis plants and 1437 ampoules of Pathedine, 14,50,210 poppy plants and other contraband drugs were seized between January and May".

Despite attempts to stop smuggling of drugs, such as heroin and Yaba tablets from Burma to Bangladeshthe armed forces and other law enforcing agencies cannot seem to control the rampant trade in drugs. It continues unabated, an intellectual said.

In Bangladesh the middle class, including students are into the use of Yaba tablets and other drugs coming from Burma forcing the Bangladesh government to crack down against drug users and dealers. The surplus drugs, including Yaba tablets are dispatched to other countries, said an observer.

The members of law enforcing agencies and the staff members of the DNC are in a position to nab the dealers and retailers. But the ring leaders of the drug mafia and godfathers remain out of reach as they are well organized and equipped with sophisticated firearms and telecommunication gadgets.

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comments