The Bangladesh Coastguard arrested two Burmese nationals smuggling yaba (amphetamine) tablets across the Burma-Bangladesh border on the Naff River on 3 December, according to Hussain Kamal from Teknaf Town.
He said: “The arrested were identified as Md Mamun Noor (48), son of Md Sukkur and Nurul Hakim (33), both from Pranpru in Maungdaw Township.”
According to Bangladesh Coastguard officials from Teknaf the two men were arrested close to Jaliadia Island with 8,000 yaba tablets in their possession following a tip-off.
The officials said that they were smugglers who had links to associates on the Bangladesh side of the border.
After their arrest the two men were sent to Teknaf Police Station for further interrogation.
Anu Meah, a Bangladesh Police aide said that the police have charged the two men with smuggling yaba.
It has been alleged that the authorities have been unable prevent thousands of yaba tablets being smuggled from Burma to Bangladesh via sea routes.
On 1 December a flag meeting to discuss the prevention of yaba smuggling, human trafficking and other cross-border crimes was held between the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and the Burma Border Guard Police (BGP) at Maungdaw Town in Burma.
According to BGB sources both sides will carry out joint raids along the border in future.
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
