Drug dealer’s tip leads to massive arms haul in Narayanganj

A police drive unearthed a large cache of sophisticated arms and ammunition in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj on Friday based on the information gleaned from Sharif Miah, known to the police as a drug peddler. Rupganj police conducted a drive in Sharif's house on Tuesday afternoon and recovered a submachine gun (SMG) and some yaba pills. Sharif was later held from Chashara area of Narayanganj city by members of the Detective Branch (DB) on Wednesday. Police started the drive there early Friday and recovered 62 firearms including SMGs, light machine guns, and M16 assault rifles, two rocket launchers, 40 magazines, four pistols, two walkie-talkies, 42 grenades and a large quantity of bullets. The photo shows a portion of the massive haul of arms and ammunition that police recovered in a drive carried out in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj. The photo was taken on Friday Dhaka TribuneSharif, during interrogation, gave information that a large number of firearms were being concealed in Gutibo area of the upazila, according to police. That a drug peddler like Sharif, son of Moslem Uddin from Bogla village under Daudpur union, could be the informant of such an arms haul surprised all in his locality.

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Daudpur union parishad Chairman Md Nurul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: “I know Sharif Miah was a drug addict and peddler. I couldn't imagine that he has become such a troublesome factor.” Rupganj police Sub-Inspector (investigation) Rafiqul Islam said there were multiple counts of narcotics cases against Sharif, and police had started scrutinising the relevant documents. It is yet unclear how a small-time drug dealer could be involved with such a massive collection of advanced weapons. Police, too, are being tight-lipped. Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque, who visited the area in the morning, would only say the arms were stored there with the intention of using them in a large-scale sabotage in the future.

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Also Read- IGP: Narayanganj weapons meant for mass sabotage

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Meanwhile, Sharif's wife Fahima Begum claimed he had worked as a source of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in the past. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune at her house on Friday, Fahima said Sharif had left home for Dubai after their marriage in late 2006. After his return from Dubai in 2009, a friend had introduced Sharif to an officer of RAB-11, she alleged. Later, her husband tried his fortune in the land business, but failed, according to Fahima.