Although the launch of the Dhaka-Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar railway has opened up new horizons in the country’s tourism and communication system, law enforcement agencies, anti-drug organizations and security analysts have expressed concern that the trend of smuggling Yaba and other drugs using this route is increasing.
Cox’s Bazar, in addition to being one of the tourist destinations in Bangladesh, has long been known as a risky area for Yaba smuggling due to its proximity to the Myanmar border. Although most shipments were transported by road in the past, several incidents of drug smuggling have recently come to light via railways.
Sources say that due to the intensification of regular check posts and searches on the road, smugglers are using trains as an alternative. Since it is not possible to check every piece of luggage on trains carrying hundreds of passengers every day, criminals are trying to exploit this opportunity.
Intelligence sources claim that Yaba, ice (crystal meth) and other drugs are being transported to Chattogram, Dhaka and various districts of the country by boarding trains from the iconic Cox’s Bazar railway station in the guise of passengers.
Investigations have revealed that instead of carrying drugs on their bodies, smugglers are now resorting to hiding them in different parts of the train. Sometimes they are trying to carry drugs through food packets, sometimes luggage, and sometimes abandoned bags. Law enforcement officials say that regular operations are being conducted to identify these techniques.
A senior railway police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said,
“We are regularly conducting operations based on intelligence information and significant amounts of yaba have been recovered at various times. However, checking a large number of passengers and luggage every day is a big technical challenge.”
He also said that drug smuggling can be controlled more effectively if there are modern luggage scanners, adequate manpower, and improved surveillance systems.
According to analysts, if modern scanning systems like airports, dog squads, and intelligence surveillance are not increased, this railway may become more attractive to drug smugglers in the future.
According to drug control experts, several steps need to be taken quickly—
Installing advanced luggage scanners at Cox’s Bazar, Chattogram, and Dhaka stations. Increased intelligence surveillance in plain clothes along with uniformed police on trains. Regular searches by dog squads. Special monitoring of suspicious parcels and luggage. Strengthening campaigns to make passengers aware. Railways are important infrastructure for the country’s tourism, trade and economy. However, those concerned fear that if the security system is not strengthened, the activities of organized drug gangs using this route may increase. Therefore, experts are emphasizing on strengthening modern technology-based security systems and intelligence surveillance to keep this tourism-friendly railway safe.
