DHAKA, June 19, 2025 (BSS) - The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested two Myanmar nationals along with 1.2lakh pieces of Yaba tablets while smuggling drugs in the Naf River under the guise of fishermen in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf border.

The arrestees were identified as Md. Zubayer, 20, son of Md. Elias of Dailpara village in Maungdaw district, Myanmar and Nurul Amin, 22, son of the late Islam, said a BGB press release.

Acting on intelligence information that some Myanmar nationals will hand over a consignment of Yaba to some Bangladeshi nationals disguised as fishermen through the Naf River under the responsibility of Nazirpara BOP under the jurisdiction of Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), BGB personnel conducted a raid at several strategic locations on the Naf River and its banks.

Around 11pm on Wednesday, when a boat's movement in the river seemed suspicious, the BGB naval patrol teams chased them.

Sensing the presence of the BGB, the smugglers tried to flee quickly, but the BGB team intercepted the fleeing boat, along with two Myanmar nationals, approximately 100 yards inside Bangladesh's zero line of the Naf River. 

Later, the BGB team searched the boat and seized 1,20,000 pieces of Yaba, which were specially hidden in a net under the deck and wrapped in a special way.

During primary interrogation, the arrestees said that they had planned to bring the Yaba consignment from Myanmar and hand it over to their Bangladeshi accomplices waiting there on the pretext of fishing in the river. 

Legal action is being taken against the arrested Myanmar nationals.

The process of identifying and bringing the Bangladeshis involved in it is underway.

Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) Commander Lt. Col. Ashikur Rahman said that the BGB is committed to implementing the 'zero tolerance policy' to prevent all cross-border criminal activities, including stopping drug smuggling across the border. 

To this end, the BGB has been conducting regular operations along with strengthening patrols at the border. 

"Such activities of the BGB will continue in the future as well," he assured.