Joint operation in remote hills to prevent drugs, abduction: Weapons, narcotics seized in Teknaf
Tawhidul Islam, Cox's Bazar
A joint operation has been conducted in the remote hills of Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox’s Bazar to combat drug trafficking and abduction. More than 500 members from RAB, police, BGB, army, APBn, and the forest department participated in the operation. RAB has reported the recovery of a large quantity of local weapons and narcotics during the drive.
At a press conference held on Thursday at 3 PM in the hilly area of Rangikhali Jumma Para under Hnila Union of Teknaf, Commanding Officer of RAB-15, Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Kamrul Hasan, confirmed the information.
He stated that Cox’s Bazar is a crime-prone district, where incidents of drug smuggling, trafficking, and abduction frequently occur. In the last three months alone, around 40 abduction cases have been recorded in Cox’s Bazar district, with nearly 30 of them taking place in these two upazilas — Teknaf and Ukhiya. According to intelligence sources, abductors usually detain victims in remote forest areas such as Jalia Palong, Shamlapur, and Kutumghata in Ukhiya, and Rangikhali, Alikhali, and Jalia Para in Teknaf. As these remote locations are difficult for law enforcement agencies to access, terrorists and robbers consider them safe havens.
With the aim of completely destroying the hideouts of terrorists and robbers in these remote areas and shutting down the narcotics routes, the joint operation began on Thursday morning. Over 500 forces from RAB, the army, BGB, APBn, police, and the forest department took part in this coordinated operation. During the raid, several temporary hideouts and cottages used by the criminals were discovered. Upon searching these locations, the forces recovered 2,050 yaba tablets, 10 grams of cannabis, 2 LG firearms, 1 shooter gun, 11 rounds of ammunition, 1 firearm component, 4 machetes, 2 knives, 1 dagger, 3 locally made sharp weapons (kirich), and other items.
He further mentioned that regular sweeping drives would continue in these areas to ensure that criminals and terrorists cannot find safe refuge there again.
