Border News Agency
Cox’s Bazar, May 31
Residents, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, have confirmed that narcotics are being trafficked into Bangladesh through the Arakan-Bangladesh border, particularly from Maungdaw Township, which is under the control of the Arakan Army (AA).
As a result, both Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals are urging Bangladeshi authorities to strengthen border security and take necessary actions to prevent and crack down on drug trafficking along the border.
“They are transporting and distributing narcotics almost every day. The main players involved are ARSA and RSO groups, who are doing the transporting. Inside the camp, the operations are being led by Dil Mamat. Since the drugs are entering from Maungdaw, the Arakan Army (AA) must also be aware of it. ARSA members are benefiting from both information and money,” a refugee from Kutupalong camp told Border News Agency. “The Bangladeshi government needs to take effective measures to stop this,” the refugee added.
On May 28, more than 130,000 yaba tablets and over one kilogram of crystal meth (ICE), valued at approximately 12 crore Bangladeshi Taka, were seized in Teknaf town along the Arakan-Bangladesh border, according to an official statement released by the Bangladeshi government.
In addition, narcotics continue to enter Bangladesh daily through various routes from Maungdaw Township, with multiple types of drugs being smuggled across different points along the Arakan-Bangladesh border. As a result, Bangladeshi citizens are calling for a complete blockade and tighter control along the entire border to effectively stop the flow of narcotics.
Due to the ongoing, unchecked influx of narcotics across the border, incidents of violence – including armed clashes, killings, and abductions – have been occurring frequently in the Bangladeshi border region, according to both Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals.
Traders have reported that the entire Maungdaw Township, located along the Arakan-Bangladesh border, has been under full control of the Arakan Army (AA) since December 8 of last year. Cross-border trade between the two countries is reportedly being carried out based on mutual understanding under AA’s control.
According to Arakan locals, these narcotics are being transported from Myanmar’s easternmost regions – near the Chinese and Thai borders – through multiple towns across the country, eventually reaching Maungdaw Township in the far west.
They said the drugs have been illegally trafficked and sold into neighboring Bangladesh through the Maungdaw border. However, this activity temporarily halted during the peak of intense fighting in the Arakan region.
According to locals in Arakan, drug trafficking has long been carried out across generations in collaboration with high-ranking government officials, local authorities, and security personnel. They confirmed that even now, narcotics traders continue to operate with the support and cooperation of these officials, transporting and selling illegal drugs.
