Photo:BSS

THAKURGAON, June 14, 2025, (BSS) - The Bangladesh Army today detained a youth with 470 pieces of yaba tablets, a pistol, blank stamps, foreign currency and a Chinese axe from a cooperative society in Thakurgaon.

The operation was carried out around 4 am at Shibganj Bazar under Jamalpur Union in Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila. 

The detainee, identified as Md. Mukul, son of Ainul Munshi of Madhya Parpugi village, was arrested from the office of "Adarsha Khudro Samabay Samiti," a local cooperative society allegedly involved in illegal activities.

Acting on intelligence, an army team from the temporary Thakurgaon camp, led by Captain Md. Mehedi Hasan, conducted the raid and cordoned off the cooperative premises. 

The troops recovered 470 yaba pills, a pistol, 600 signed blank stamps, 30 foreign coins, six foreign currency notes, a Chinese axe and a baton. The estimated market value of the seized yaba pills is around Tk 2 lakh.

Military sources said the cooperative had long been under surveillance for operating illegal drug business and money-lending operations under the guise of a legitimate business. Victims were reportedly enticed with loan offers and forced to sign blank stamps. 

Defaulters were allegedly intimidated with weapons. The group had even installed CCTV cameras throughout the market to discreetly monitor public movements.

The detained individual was later handed over to the local police along with the seized items for legal proceedings.

Confirming the incident, Executive Magistrate Akhtaruzzaman said, "The army conducted a raid at Shibganj Bazar early this morning and arrested the director of the cooperative with yaba, a pistol and foreign currency. Legal procedures are underway."