Chittagong Metropolitan Police and its Detective Branch yesterday in a joint drive demolished at least 25 drug trading dens in Chittagong city’s Motijharna area, well known to locals as a drug peddling hotspot.
A total of five people were arrested in the drive, including two women. Police sources said they arrestees were allegedly involved with drug peddling business for a long time. Two motorcycles were also seized from their possession, the sources added.
The arrestees were Abdur Nur, Monwara Begum, Rabeya, Jubayer Alam and Saiful.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Babul Akhter of CMP DB said they had conducted the drive around 4pm which went on till around 6:30pm, following a tipp-off.
ADC Mohammad Shahidullah of CMP (North Zone) said: “When the law enforcers started the drive at the shanties, sensing our presence, most drug smugglers managed to flee, locking their thatched houses which were used for drug trading at night.”
“But, the law enforcers has demolished all the dens and made sure that none can sell drugs in the area in future,” he added.
Officer-in-Charge Mainul Islam Bhuiyan of Khulshi police station said Nur, Monwara and Rabeya were enlisted drug smugglers amongst at least 34 drug peddlers that operated in the area. Two other detainees were held on suspicion, he added.
According to CMP sources, Motijharna, Barishal Colony near Chittagong Railway Station, New Shahid Lane at Ispahani Circle, Kadamtali, Madarbari, Bakalia, Kotwali and Scrap Colony of Panchlaish were mentionable spots among at least 50 drug peddling hotspots in the port city.
Banaz Kumar Majumder, additional commissioner (crime and operation) of CMP said they would continue to conduct such drives in future to remove drug smuggling from the city.
