Smugglers Shift from Roads to Waterways: Yaba Shipments Distributed Nationwide via Trawlers

With increased surveillance on the country's roads, smugglers are turning to waterways to traffic narcotics. Law enforcement officials report that large consignments of Yaba—originating from Myanmar—are reaching various parts of the country via trawlers and other watercraft.

According to relevant sources, drug shipments entering through Cox’s Bazar and Teknaf are being distributed to regions including Barishal, Chandpur, Mongla, Khulna, and Dhaka. While large consignments are occasionally intercepted, many smuggling attempts go undetected.
Law enforcement officials state that, due to frequent roadside searches and the presence of checkpoints, traffickers are increasingly utilizing river and sea routes as an alternative. An intelligence agency is currently investigating these maritime smuggling activities and working to identify those involved.

Recent operations by law enforcement agencies have resulted in the seizure of two shipments containing 500,000 Yaba pills each, as well as another shipment of 300,000 pills.
Furthermore, officials have identified Chandpur as a key transit point for drug trafficking. In an operation conducted there by the Department of Narcotics Control, an individual named Rana was arrested with 25,000 Yaba pills; the department has described him as a major figure in the local drug trade.
Meanwhile, an official from the Department of Narcotics Control noted that existing personnel and infrastructure are insufficient to curb the spread of narcotics. Although proposals to enhance operational capacity have been submitted, they have yet to be implemented.

Wing Commander M Z M Entekhab Chowdhury, Director of the Special Response Battalion (SRB), has also confirmed the use of waterways for drug trafficking. He stated that nationwide operations, characterized by a firm stance against narcotics, remain ongoing.