Probe to find out source of amphetamine drug launched

Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has started an investigation to find out the source of 15.65-kilogram contraband amphetamine drug seized by aviation personnel at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).

The value of illegal drug was estimated to be Tk 240 million that was found in seven cartons of clothing for export during a security check at export cargo village in the airport early Wednesday, according to DNC.

At a press briefing held at its Segunbagicha headquarters on Thursday, DNC director general Ahsanul Jabbar said they have not yet come to know from where the illegal drug came.

They have already started an investigation into the drug smuggling move and the investigators could get some sort of idea about its source by interrogating the suspected arrestees, he added.

"We think an international gang is behind the scene, not local one. But we need to quiz the detained persons properly to know who are behind it," said Mr Jabbar who joined the department on deputation on July 31 last.

He said they have intensified their intelligence activities over global courier services operations here so that they cannot send illegal stuff through wrong declaration of the products.

"We shall take legal action against the people involved in the crime. We will not spare anyone," the DNC DG said, adding that they also started the process of filing a case against six arrestees.

He said the drug was inside a consignment of garment items which was being exported by a company named Neptune Freight. It was smuggled through FedEx courier service and the destination was Australia via Hong Kong.

Citing primary interrogation, he said Rubel Hossain of Ashkona office of Neptune Freight Ltd had booked seven cartons to send denims for Australia.

They also came to know that United Express Ltd received seven cartons of Neptune Freight Ltd at the suggestion of United Freight located at Banani, he said.

They later sent the cartons to FedEx. And FedEx later sent it to the cargo village of the airport where it was seized with airport scanner, the DG said.

Mr Jabbar also said that filing of cases is in the process against six suspected people. They are FedEx Executive Director (finance) Khandekar Iftekher Uddin Mahmud, Senior Manager (operation) Rasel Mahmud, United Express General Manager Gazi Samsul Alam, and MGH employees working in export cargo village- Loading Supervisor Kajol T Gomes, and loading workers Hamidul Islam and Nazrul Islam, the DG said.

Seeking anonymity, a DNC official said the seized drug is expensive and not produced and used in Bangladesh as far as their intelligence report is concerned.

"It entered Bangladesh from somewhere on its way to somewhere else. We checked the consignment that was supposed to land in Australia via Hong Kong," he said, mentioning receiver address as Das Singh, 36 Columbia Road, Melbourne Narre Warren VIC-3805.

International drug cartels used Bangladesh due to its geographical location.