A drug trafficking syndicate allegedly turned two children, aged nine and 12, into human drug couriers, making them swallow 6,615 yaba tablets packed in 133 packets and carry the contraband in their stomachs from Ukhiya to Chattogram in exchange for just Tk8,000, according to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
RAB said the syndicate adopted the risky tactic of using children to evade law enforcement agencies, and during interrogation, a detained woman reportedly admitted that the same two children had previously been used twice to transport yaba consignments to Chattogram.
Acting on intelligence, a team of RAB-7 set up a temporary checkpoint in the Tailardip area of Anwara upazila, Chattogram, on Saturday last and detained the two children along with the woman. They were later taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where X-ray examinations revealed a large number of suspicious objects inside their stomachs, and under medical supervision, the packets were gradually expelled naturally through bowel movements. RAB today (7 September) said that a total of 6,615 yaba tablets were recovered from 133 packets following medical treatment at the hospital.
RAB-7 Company Commander Lieutenant Commander Md Tawhidul Islam confirmed the information through a press release issued today, identifying the detained children as Shahriar, 12, and Abu Bakar, 9, while saying their detailed identities were not immediately available and the woman detained with them was not a relative of the children.
RAB-7 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md Mostafizur Rahman said the yaba tablets had been packed into small capsules, with each capsule containing around 40 to 50 tablets.
During initial questioning, the children reportedly told RAB that an individual had paid each of them Tk4,000, or Tk8,000 in total, to transport the drugs and had promised them additional payment after the consignment was delivered in Chattogram. They also said they had previously travelled to Chattogram twice carrying yaba in the same manner, indicating that the syndicate had repeatedly used the children to transport drugs through the dangerous method.
The children were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital around 2am on Sunday. They were subsequently admitted to the Department of Pediatric Surgery.
After X-rays detected the capsules inside their stomachs, doctors began the process of removing them while keeping the children under close observation. A subsequent X-ray showed that their stomachs were clear.
Chattogram Civil Surgeon Mohammad Sajedur Rahman said yaba is generally wrapped in plastic and formed into small capsule-like packets before being swallowed.
“Carrying drugs inside the body in this manner is extremely risky,” he added.
He also warned that if a capsule becomes lodged in the intestine or ruptures, the drug can quickly spread through the body, causing poisoning, serious health complications and even death.
RAB officials said the two children are currently physically stable but remain under observation at the hospital. They will be questioned further after being discharged following completion of their treatment.
Based on information provided by the children and the detained woman, RAB is attempting to identify and arrest those involved in using the children to smuggle the yaba, officials said.
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