Cox’s Bazar, July 30 (V7N) – The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested a suspected drug trafficker disguised as a fisherman while attempting to smuggle 50,000 Yaba tablets across the Naf River. The arrest was made during a special operation conducted by the Ukhiya Battalion (64 BGB) based on intelligence inputs.
 
The detainee has been identified as Md. Shamsul Alam, son of Md. Bhulu Mia, a resident of Hnila Union, Teknaf upazila. The commanding officer of the 64 BGB Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Jashim Uddin, confirmed the incident.
 
He stated that recently, traffickers have increasingly adopted the tactic of posing as fishermen to smuggle narcotics from Myanmar into Bangladesh via the Naf River. Despite adverse weather conditions, BGB patrol teams remain vigilant and are regularly conducting operations based on real-time intelligence.
 
According to official BGB sources, on the evening of July 28, based on confidential information, a patrol team from the Palongkhali Border Outpost (BOP) took strategic positions on the embankment in the Anjumanpara area—approximately 1 km east of Border Reference Marker (BRM) 19 and 1.5 km northeast of the BOP inside Bangladesh territory.
 
After nearly two and a half hours, two individuals dressed as fishermen were seen entering Bangladesh from the border area. The BGB patrol team challenged them, and one suspect, Md. Shamsul Alam, was apprehended. A black shoulder bag in his possession was searched, revealing 50,000 Yaba tablets.
 
Lt. Col. Jashim Uddin further stated that the arrested individual and the seized narcotics will be handed over to Ukhiya Police Station for legal proceedings.
 
Local authorities have praised the BGB for their continued vigilance and proactive operations in curbing cross-border drug trafficking. The trend of using fishing as a cover for narcotics smuggling is an emerging concern in the region, particularly along the Naf River, which borders Myanmar.
 
END/SIU/SMA/