Police arrested an alleged female drug trader with 2,500 yaba tablets during an anti-narcotics drive in Matlab South upazila of Chandpur on Thursday.
The arrestee, identified as Khuki, also known as Parveen, 60, is the daughter of Majed Sharif of Chapaid village in Madhupur upazila of Tangail. Police said she is currently living in the Karwan Bazar slum in Dhaka.
She was detained after police stopped and searched a passenger Hiace vehicle on the bridge near Panir Tanki Bazar in the Dashpara area of Matlab municipality, recovering 2,500 yaba tablets from her possession.
Police said a search of her mobile phone found no stored contacts or call records. During questioning, she allegedly gave misleading and inconsistent information.
Further investigation revealed that she had previously been accused in a yaba trafficking case in Cumilla. Police also said she was arrested by Cumilla Sadar South Police with 700 yaba tablets on Feb. 14 last year.
According to investigators, Parveen allegedly collected yaba from Chattogram and supplied the drugs through different routes, with the Chandpur-Hajiganj corridor being one of the key trafficking routes.
Matlab South Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Hafizur Rahman Manik said the arrest was made based on a tip-off and the accused was sent to court after legal procedures.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (Matlab Circle) Jabir Husnain Sani said drives against drugs, juvenile gangs and other crimes would continue as part of the police's zero-tolerance policy against narcotics.