A total of 106 drug smuggling godfathers, with around 500 drug peddlers under their command, have been conducting drug-related business at 274 spots in the port city of Chittagong.
The Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) prepared the list, CMP sources said, adding that the CMP authorities had also taken some new measures to stop drug peddling in the city.
According to the CMP Detective Branch (DB) index, there are a total of 54 drug spots under Kotwali police station which are being controlled by 18 godfathers.
In Bakalia police station, there are a total 24 drug spots under 11 godfathers, while there are 14 drug peddling spots under four godfathers each in Sadarghat, Halishahar and Chawkbazar police stations.
Three godfathers run the drug business in 22 spots under Panchliash police station, four control 26 spots under Khulshi police station, three control 12 spots under Chandgaon police station, 10 control 20 spots under Double Mooring police station, seven run 24 spots under Pahartoli police station, another seven reign over seven spots under Bayezid police station, 14 control 19 spots under Akbar Shah police station, seven control 10 spots under Karnaphuli police station, three run six spots under Bandar police station, four run 22 spots under EPZ police station and three control seven spots under Patenga police station area.
DB Sub-Inspector Sontos Kumar Chakma said they had already destroyed some spots and nabbed some listed smugglers, adding that the drives would be continued.
Besides, the CMP was also forming a drug spot based social committee, comprising of each area’s locals and public representatives, to grow public awareness and to get information about the spot based smugglers, said Assistant Commissioner Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf of Kotwali circle.
He said each committee was be comprised of 10-15 members who aim to help police stop the crime.
The CMP has already formed 240 social committees, while the rest of the committees are still being formed.
“We will take on a zero tolerance policy against drug smuggling,” said CMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operation) Banaz Kumar Majumder.
Regarding the legal loop wholes, he said: “When we produce any drug smuggler, he gets a chance to go out on bail and continue drug smuggling again.”
He suggested that immediate sentences by mobile courts would help stop the peddlers from committing any further offences.
CMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam said the port city was like a transit point of drug smuggling, adding that they were trying their best to prevent the drug smugglers with legislative actions.