FM Mizanur Rahaman, Ctg

While the entire country works to contain the spread of coronavirus, drug peddlers are finding ways to dodge law enforcers to continue their business in the port city, even during the lockdown.

In the last three weeks, members of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-7) and Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) arrested seven alleged drug peddlers with yaba pills, Phensedyl and hemp.

As traffic movement remains suspended to ensure the lockdown, peddlers are using pickups and covered vans in the name of emergency delivery services to keep up their trade, police and Rab officials said.

On April 27, Rab arrested a man with 93 bottles of Phensedyl and 2.9kg of hemp at Sitakunda upazila. He was coming to the city from Cumilla on a covered van and hid the contraband under the driving seat.

Mahmudul Hasan, assistant director of Rab-7 media wing, said the driver told officials that he was going to Chattogram from Cumilla carrying essential goods. However, after challenging his suspicious behaviour, Rab recovered the drugs and arrested him.

The arrestee runs an aluminum shop, which acted as a cover for his drug trade, the official said.

Police said special check posts have been set up at five entry points across the city to ensure lockdown. Only vehicles and personnel carrying emergency goods, such as food and medicine, are allowed to enter or exit the city. This is why drug traders are active under the guise of carrying emergency goods.

Members of Rab-7 also arrested a man with 40,000 yaba pills from Mirzapur area under Panchlaish Police Station on April 27.

Two days prior, Rab arrested two others from Feni with 10kg of hemp. The same month, members of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) arrested a man with with 7000 yaba pills from the city’s Lalkhan Bazar area.

On April 22, a pickup van was seized and 10,000 yaba pills were recovered. On April 8, two youths were arrested with 6,000 yaba pills from Kazir Dewri area by Kotwali police. The duo told police they were out to buy medicine.

Mohammed Mohsin, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, told The Daily Star, “Drug peddlers are looking for opportunities as law enforcers are busy with ensuring lockdown and distributing relief and more. However, we are alert against their activities.”

Contacted, Additional Commissioner (Traffic) of CMP Mostak Ahmed said “In every check post, police are instructed to check suspicious vehicles, maintaining proper safety and security.”