The latest raids come just four days after another yaba manufacturing facility was busted in the area, pointing to a wider drug production network operating on the outskirts of the capital.
Seized yaba and raw materials. Photo: Courtesy
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Seized yaba and raw materials. Photo: Courtesy
The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has uncovered two more yaba manufacturing facilities in Keraniganj, arresting an alleged chemist and a dealer while seizing nearly 31,300 yaba tablets, manufacturing equipment and raw materials.
The arrests were announced at a press briefing held today (3 August) in front of one of the factories at Madina Market in Keraniganj by RAB-2 Commanding Officer Additional DIG Naymul Hasan.
The arrestees were identified as Faisal Islam Mithu, 42, an alleged yaba dealer, and Nasir, 45, who RAB described as both a yaba dealer and chemist.
According to RAB, acting on a tip-off, a team detained Faisal from Basila Housing area under Mohammadpur yesterday (2 August) while he was allegedly transporting yaba on a motorcycle. Officers recovered 11,759 yaba tablets from his possession.
Based on information obtained during initial interrogation, RAB raided Faisal’s house in Keraniganj and discovered a yaba manufacturing facility, where a tablet-making machine was seized.
The information later led investigators to a second factory at Madina Market in Keraniganj, where Nasir was arrested.
RAB recovered another 19,520 yaba tablets, a yaba-making machine and 17kg of raw materials used in producing the drug.
Replying to reporters, Naymul Hasan said Nasir had been manufacturing and distributing yaba for nearly a decade. He allegedly procured the raw materials from Chattogram and supplied the finished tablets through his own distribution network across the country.
The RAB official also said Nasir had disclosed the names of several associates during interrogation, but investigators were withholding those identities in the interest of the ongoing investigation.
The latest operation comes just days after RAB uncovered another yaba factory in Keraniganj’s Madhyachar South Baluchar area on 30 July, where four people were arrested along with yaba tablets, manufacturing equipment and raw materials, raising fresh concerns over the emergence of clandestine drug production hubs around the capital.
