Authorities in the Dominican Republic announced Friday that they confiscated nearly 9.5 tons of cocaine, the largest drug seizure in the country’s history. The $250 million worth of drugs were found nestled inside a banana shipment that arrived at the Caucedo port in the capital of Santo Domingo, the country’s most important seaport. The shipment had been sent from Guatemala and was destined for Belgium, said Carlos Devers, spokesman for the Dominican Republic’s Anti-Drug Agency. Foreign national detained with 4 kgs of Cocaine at Chattogram airport Ten suspects have been detained, he said at a press conference. Authorities so far this year have seized nearly 47 tons of drugs. BGB seizes 2.5 kg cocaine on Khulna-bound train in Kushtia The second biggest seizure on record was reported in 2006, when officials found more than 5,680 pounds (2,580 kilograms) at the Caucedo port. The Dominican Republic has long been considered a major drug transit point. African national arrested with 200 grams cocaine from Uttara hotel in Dhaka

A Cumilla court on Monday sentenced a couple to ten years imprisonment in a case filed for possessing drugs in 2020. Also read : Ex-cop finally surrenders, lands in jail for torturing wife in Sylhet The convicts are—Md Sumon and his wife Marjina Begum of Subhopur in Sadar upazila. Of them Marjina tried in absentia. Cumilla District and Session Judge Helal Uddin handed down the punishment. The court also fined them Tk 10,000 each, in default, to suffer, three months more in rigorous imprisonment. Also read : MoFA official lands in Madaripur jail in case of dowry and torture filed by wife According to the prosecution, police arrested Sumon and Marjina along with 111 bottles of Phensidyl and 1.500 gram hemp, from a house at Gandhamati Dakkhin Bagmara in Sadar Dakkhin upazila on December 28, 2020. Also read : Amassing illegal wealth: Regent's chairman Shahed jailed for 3 years A case was filed against the couple with Sadar Dakkhin Police Station.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained four Myanmar nationals and seized 10,000 Yaba pills, 1.06 kgs of Crystal meth, 35 bottles of foreign liquor and 430 cans of beer from them at Jaliardwip in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district. The BGB conducted the drive on Monday night. Also Read: ‘Drug peddler’s’ throat-slit body found in Chuadanga The detainees were identified as Waz Karim, 22, son of Shafiur Rahman, Mahbubur Rahman, 19, son of Amir Hakim, Md Foysal, 20, son of Anis Ahmed and Jashim uddin, son of Hossain Ahmed of Myanmar. Among them, Foysal and Jashim were the residents of Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar and Balukhali camp. Also Read: Huge haul of drugs busted at Chapainawabganj border: BGB Tipped off, a team of BGB-2 conducted a drive in the area and challenged a boat while crossing the zero line of the bordering area around 10:20 pm, said Commanding officer of BGB-2, Lieutenant Colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed. Also Read: Myanmar national among 3 held with Crystal meth, Yaba pills in Teknaf Later, they managed to detain four people and seized the drugs including beer and liquor from inside the boat. A process is on to hand them over to Teknaf Police Station.    

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) say they have recovered 28,000 yaba pills, 1 kg heroin, and 77 bottles of Phensedyl from the Chapainawabganj border area. The drugs were seized during raids at Chakpara, Telkupi and Azmatpur border areas under Shibganj upazila, according to a press release sent by 59 BGB Battalion this morning. Acting on a tip-off, a BGB patrol team led by Lt Col Golam Kibria, commander of 59 BGB battalion, raided the border areas last night. At that time, the yaba pills, heroin, and Phensedyl were recovered while no one was around, said the release. According to the press release, special patrols of BGB are being conducted in the border areas to implement a zero-tolerance policy against drugs announced by the prime minister and the BGB director general.

Asserting that her government will continue its drive against militancy, terrorism, drugs and corruption Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday asked the people to remain vigilant against the evils. “Our drive against militancy, terrorism, drugs and corruption will be continued. All of you must remain cautious regarding this matter,” she said. The prime minister was addressing a huge public rally at TT High School ground at Bhangar Haat in Kotalipara upazila here. She also asked all guardians to remain alert so that their children don't get involved with drugs and militancy.  With Kotalipara upazila unit AL president Bhabendra Nath Biswas in the chair the rally was addressed among others by AL presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim And AL general secretary Obaidul Quader. Kotalipara upazila unit AL Aynal Hossain conducted the rally. Earlier, the PM inaugurated 43 development projects and laid foundation stones of another five in Kotalipara. She came down heavily on a section of people who often compare Awami League and BNP on the same scale. “Some people compare Awami League with BNP, some say two parties,” she said. She mentioned that in 2008 election, BNP and its 20-party alliance got only 30 seats out of 300 while AL-led grand alliance won the rest. “Then how can these two parties be same?” She questioned. She said that during the BNP regime there were militancy, terrorism, grenade attacks, bomb blasts in 500 places, while it became champions in corruption for five times. “They did not give anything to people, they just looted people’s ’ money," she asserted. She said that BNP does not comply with their own party constitution. Also Read: Boost research on agriculture to increase production: PM Hasina tells scientists In this connection, she mentioned that as per the constitution of BNP the convicted criminals can not lead the party.  “Why does BNP fails to get some one who is not convicted to be their leader?,” she wondered. She said that BNP is being led by Khaleda Zia and her son who both are convicted criminals.  “They do not obey their own party constitution, country’s law, and how that party can be compared with Awami League,” she said. She said that those who often mention ‘two big parties’ are making mistakes. She said that AL is the organisation of the people of Bangladesh.  “This party has been formed in the struggle to realise the rights of the people of this country, and that's why when AL comes to power the country sees development, “ she said. On the other hand, she said, parties like BNP, Jatiya Party and Jamaat lack that credentials. “Zia grabbed the power illegally through violating the constitution, there is a verdict of the higher court,” she said. She recalled that BNP is the party that was formed by Gen Ziaur Rahman while staying in power by grabbing it illegally and bribing some people.  “They never wanted the good and welfare of the people,” she said. In this regard, she mentioned that BNP set people on fire, play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people.  “So, there is no way to compare Awami League with them (BNP),” she said. She said that Awami League is the organisation of this country’s land and people. It works for the welfare of the people. “We (Awami League) have attained the independence under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The results of the independence is reaching every door and it will continue this way,” she said. Hasina thanked the people of her constituency (Tungiara-Kotaliara) for always standing beside her though she can’t go to them regularly like other lawmakers as she has to oversee 300 parliamentary seats and their overall socioeconomic developments.  “I express my gratitude to you (Tungipara-Kotalipara people) as you always feel for me from your hearts. I get the love and affection of my father, mother and brothers from you people after losing them,” she said.  Briefly describing her government's measures for the development of Gopalganj, she said it used to take 24 hours to reach Kotalipara through waterways from Dhaka, but it now takes a few hours to reach here. The premier said her government has built the Padma Bridge with its own funds after overcoming many challenges that include corruption allegations. She reiterated that they have come to power to improve the fate of the people instead of  making their own fortunes through corruption. Hasina said she is out to give the people a beautiful and improved life by transforming the country into a developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh, free from hunger and poverty as envisioned by  Bangabandhu. Spelling out various measures taken by her government for ensuring overall development of the country, she said they have increased the education rate by establishing schools and colleges in every upazila alongside computer and digital labs, reached healthcare services to people's doorsteps by setting up community clinics, giving various allowances to the people under the social safety net programmes and giving houses to every landless and homeless people.  The prime minister said that the government is determined to maintain law and order to ensure safety and security of the citizens alongside carrying out the country’s socio-economic advancement.  She once again asked the people to bring every inch of fallow land under cultivation to grow their food as the ongoing global economic recession and food crisis can hit Bangladesh too.  

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Thursday said they seized goods, arms, and drugs worth Tk130.63 crore in January. The seized items include 523,268 yaba pills, 3.169kg crystal meth, 14,617 bottles of Phensedyl, 22,728 bottles of foreign liquor, 133 litres of local liquor, 5,229 cans of beer, 2,501kg hemp, 8.832kg heroin, 19,289 stimulant injections, 10,947 Eskuf syrups, and 905 bottles of MkDil/Cofidil, Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB headquarters, said. Also, 31.628kg gold, 6.061kg silver, 162,109 cosmetics, 22,510 imitation jewellery, 10,789 sarees, 5,763 three-piece sets, blankets and shirt pieces; 2,712 pieces of readymade garments, 3,386 cubic feet of timber, 3,942kg Indian tea, 86,714kg coal, 1,074kg pesticide, two touchstone idols, 79 motorcycles, seven cars, 13 pickup vans, 20 CNG and battery-run auto-rickshaws were also seized. Read more: BGB seized Tk98 crore goods in October The seized arms include two pistols, 22 guns, 130 rounds of ammunition, one mortar shell and 60mm mortar ammunition.  Also, legal action was taken against 198 smugglers, 52 Bangladesh nationals as well as seven Indian nationals for illegally crossing the border, Shariful said.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in separate drives arrested 60 people on charges of selling and consuming drugs in the capital in 24 hours till 6 am on Thursday. During the drives, 4,955 contraband yaba pills, 580 grams of heroin, 75 bottles of contraband Phensidyle and 56.415 kg of cannabis were recovered from the possessions of the arrestees. Read more: 44 arrested in DMP anti-drugs drive As part of the DMP’s regular anti-drug drive, Detective Branch (DB) and local police stations raided on various areas in the capital from Wednesday 6 am to 6 am on Thursday and recovered the drugs. A total of 45 cases were registered with local police stations against the arrested people under the Narcotics Control Act.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has said they seized smuggled goods, arms and drugs worth over Tk1,565 crore in various drives across the country last year. In 2021, smuggled goods and drugs worth Tk 1073 crore were seized by BGB. The smuggled goods seized last year included 1,27,78,100 Yaba pills, 77.690kg crystal meth, 316,157 bottles of phensidyl, 182,932 bottles of foreign liquor, 4,064 litres of local wine, 37,126 beer cans, 28,672kg cannabis, 72.159kg heroin, 4,98,754 stimulating injections, 6,55,940 Senegra tablets, 76,561 Eskuf syrups, 13.425kg Opium (afim), 13,562 bottles of Cofidil, 84,55,562 different types of medicines and 28,10,063 other drugs, Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB headquarters, said Tuesday. Also Read: Goods worth Tk107 crore seized in December: BGB Also, 194.993kg gold, 279.162kg silver, 31 touchstone statues, 2,155,094 cosmetics, 1,57,309 sarees, 59,939 3pcs/shirts pcs, 21,068 readymade garments, 30,695 cubic feet of timber, 73,176kg tea leaves, 6,21,013kg coal, 35,223 cubic feet stone, 1,25,750 imitation ornaments, 1,699kg current net, 152,5kg turtle bone, 73 trucks/covered van, 44 private cars/microbuses, 106 pickup trucks, 340 CNG/battery run auto-rickshaws and 824 motorcycles were seized. Forty-six pistols, nine rifles, five revolvers, 79 different types of guns, 25 magazines, 24 mortar shells, 5,345 rounds of bullets, 1 rocket bomb, 20 cocktails, 51 empty shells and 999.60kg of explosive-like materials were among the seized arms and ammunition. Besides, legal actions were taken against 2,953 people smugglers during this period. Some 2,085 Bangladeshis and 117 Indian nationals were arrested for crossing the border illegally, Shariful said.      

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) said they seized banned drugs worth nearly Tk5.62 crore from Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila Sunday night. Lieutenant Colonel Sheikh Khalid Mohammad Iftekhar, commanding officer of BGB-2 Battalion, today said they seized 1.65kg crystal methamphetamine and 10,000 yaba pills from the Kharangkhali area near the embankment along the River Naf. Read more: Goods worth Tk107 crore seized in December: BGB Tipped off, two patrol teams of BGB conducted a raid at Kharangkhali at midnight. At that time, a man who was trying to cross into Bangladesh from Myanmar took to his heels after seeing them. Later the BGB teams found the crystal meth and yaba pills wrapped in a cloth at the spot. Although the BGB men were hot on the trail of potential drug smugglers, they could not detain anyone in connection with the seizure of the illegal drugs, Iftekhar said. Read More: Ensure security to lives and property of people living in bordering areas: PM to BGB

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has said it seized goods, arms, and drugs worth Tk134.37 crore in November. The seized items include 521,989 yaba pills, 2.162kg crystal meth, 12,576 bottles of Phensedyl, 18,910 bottles of foreign liquor, 214 litres of local liquor, 1,315 cans of beer, 1,881kg hemp, 4kg heroin, 23,974 stimulant injections, 8,592 Eskuf syrups, and 1,618 bottles of MkDil/Cofidil, Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB headquarters, said Friday. Read more: BGB, BSF agree to cut border killings Also, 55.546kg gold, 7kg silver, 212,563 cosmetics, 10,494 imitation jewellery, 17,424 sarees, 6,011 three-piece sets, blankets and shirt pieces; 1,631 pieces of readymade garments, 2,989 cubic feet of timber, 6,080kg tea leaves, 78,533kg coal, one touchstone idol, 68 motorcycles, two trucks/covered vans, five pickup vans, 24 CNG and battery-run auto-rickshaws were also seized. The seized arms include seven pistols, eight guns, as many cocktails, 24 mortar shells, 56 rounds of bullets, and a magazine. Read more: Gold bars worth Tk22 crore seized at Benapole: BGB Also, legal action was taken against 216 smugglers, 104 Bangladesh nationals and six Indian nationals for illegally crossing the border, Shariful said.