Arakan Army Assisting Cross-Border Drug Smuggling into Bangladesh: BGB

The Arakan Army in Myanmar is directly linked to the smuggling of contraband yaba pills into Bangladesh, the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) said yesterday.

“Rohingyas are the main traffickers of yaba. They move the drugs very quickly, making it difficult to apprehend them. Some unscrupulous locals, driven by personal interests, are also bringing yaba from Myanmar’s Arakan Army into Bangladesh,” said Ramu Sector Commander Colonel Mohiduddin Ahmed at a press conference in Cox’s Bazar.

May be an image of 7 people and text — Photo from BGB's seminar/FIle Image

The BGB commander said drug trafficking through coastal routes has now become the biggest challenge. “With tight surveillance along the Ukhiya-Teknaf border, traffickers are shifting to sea routes. Nearly 80 percent of yaba now enters through the coasts of Maheshkhali, Banshkhali, Kutubdia, Anwara, and Kuakata,” he noted. “These drugs not only spread within Bangladesh but are also trafficked to other countries, posing a grave threat to our youth and economy.”

Captured rohingya with Yaba Drugs in Coxs Bazar/File Image

Colonel Mohiduddin also showed radar images of trawlers crossing into Myanmar waters at night. He said BGB, the navy, and the coast guard are coordinating efforts to curb trafficking. The Naikhongchhari border has also emerged as a vulnerable zone due to its hilly terrain and poor communication facilities, making monitoring difficult.

On the frequent detention of Bangladeshi fishermen in Myanmar, he clarified that such incidents occur only when trawlers cross into Myanmar’s territory, either mistakenly or deliberately. “The Arakan Army has never entered Bangladesh to detain fishermen. We continuously warn fishermen not to cross the maritime boundary,” he said.

Between July 15 and September 15, BGB seized around 2.8 million yaba pills from Cox’s Bazar and Bandarban border areas. During the same period, the force also recovered 22 firearms, including sophisticated rifles.

In a separate statement, BGB reported intensified intelligence surveillance and anti-smuggling drives along the frontier. In the past three months, the force recovered 16 pistols, two revolvers, two submachine guns, five rifles, 16 homemade guns, three shotguns, three mortar shells, eight grenades, 27 other firearms, 21 magazines, and 1,003 rounds of ammunition.

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