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4 years ago

Contraband drug found in apparel cartons at HSIA

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Aviation security personnel seized a huge volume of contraband amphetamine drug from a consignment of apparel for export at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) early Wednesday.

The shipment of 15.65 kilogram of the expensive drug was supposed to land in Australia via Hong Kong by a Biman Bangladesh cargo flight, aviation sources said.

Six people have so far been picked up by security agencies in connection with the seizure of the drug.

For the first time in the country's history, illegal drug has been found from inside export consignments at the Export Cargo Village at the airport.

According to sources, the exporter had consignments of 340 cartons but unauthorised drug was found from seven of such cartons.

About the development, HSIA director Group Capt AHM Touhid-ul Ahsan said aviation security men found the drug while checking at the dual-view scanner at the cargo village around 2:00 am.

Initially, they were suspecting drug-like stuff and informed several relevant agencies, including the department of narcotics control.

The material was later tested and confirmed as the contraband amphetamine drug, Mr Ahsan said.

"It's a category drug. It's expensive. Various things like Yaba can be made using this drug. So, I can't confirm its value right now. It needs more study."

But the airport director did not disclose the name of the exporter for the sake of a proper investigation.

Six persons, including shipping and courier agents, were detained and they will be handed to police soon after filing cases under both customs and narcotics control act.

"This is for the first in the country's history, narcotic items were found from an export cargo village," the HSIA director said.

Sources said a Keraniganj-based freight agency with the help of a local agent of an overseas courier firm was involved in the drug shipment.

When contacted, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association president Rubana Huq denied making any comment over the matter as the exporter was not a member of the apex apparel body.

A security expert, Maj Gen (retd) Abdur Rashid, said it will have a negative impact on exports if contrabands are found inside export consignments too often.

"I think we should take it seriously and intensify our screening facility not only in airports but in land ports and seaports as well."

"We don't want to see such things again in these sensitive areas," Mr Rashid concluded.

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