Dhaka to urge Yangon to shut down 37 factories
Dhaka will urge Yangon to shut down at least 37 yaba factories, run by extremist and militia groups, in different states of Myanmar. The request will be made at a high-level meeting between the directors-general of the narcotics departments of the two neighbours, scheduled to be held in Bangladesh on September 7, sources in the home ministry said. Yaba pills produced in these factories are regularly being smuggled into Bangladesh, the sources added.
On February 18, The Independent had published a report, “37 Myanmar factories supply Yaba to Bangladesh”. The meeting seems to be a follow-up of that report, the sources said.
Of these yaba factories, the Kachin Defence Army of Myanmar runs 10 in Kukhai and Panhsay Kyaw Myaw, Yang Mouliang operates two in Namkham, U Haw Special Police and Holi Tract run one in Kunlong and the Manpang Militia, Mongha Militia and the First Brigade of the Shan State Army (north) run three yaba factories in Tangyan.
Besides, Yanju of Loi Hsopsur has one factory in Monghsu; the Shan Nationalities People’s Liberation (SNPL) and Kao-Shan-Chou Sang (Nayai) operate two factories in Namzang; Mahaja runs two factories in Homong; the United Wa State Army (UWSA) and Kokang have three in Mongton; UWSA and Lahu Militia own and run two in Monghsat and three in Tachilek; UWSA operates one factory in Mongpiang, two in Mongyawng and another two in Panghsang; the SNPLO runs two in Mawkmai, while the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) operates one factory in Kokang.
The director-general of the department of narcotics control, Mohammad Iqbal, told The Independent that a number of people are suffering from various problems after using the drug for the last few years. Most of the drugs, especially yaba, enter the country from Myanmar, he said.“We should stop the smuggling of drugs through different border points to Bangladesh in the greater interest of the people of the country,” he added. He also said that different anti-social activities were increasing in the country, because of the use of drugs.
Yaba, whose name means “madness drug”, a potent mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine, and often spiked with trace amounts of heroin, is now the narcotic of choice for addicts, especially those in the age group of 18 to 30 years, across Bangladesh.
Sources said some people belonging to the Rohingya and Mog communities are involved in the smuggling of yaba pills, through the mostly porous border.
The intelligence report said at least 13 syndicates are active in the border areas, along with thousands of peddlers, including 31 big operators. They are actively involved in supplying yaba across the country. Most of these peddlers operate in the eastern part of Bangladesh. These people are also involved in arms smuggling.
Police officers said they have arrested a large number of people in the last 10 years, especially from the eastern parts of the country, for trading, supplying and using various drugs. However, the arrests have not succeeded in checking the spread of yaba.
According to an intelligence report, yaba tablets are being produced in at least 58 places in the border districts and 208 Bangladeshi citizens are actively involved in it. The report has already been sent to the home ministry for necessary action. After receiving the report, the home ministry had also asked the law enforcement agencies to conduct a special drive against the listed persons. But members of the law enforcement agencies are yet to arrest the mastermind of the yaba trade.
Sources said drugs like yaba, opium, heroin, phensidyl, pethidine, cannabis, weed, bhang, arousal pills, viagra, various kinds of tranquilisers, diazepam, marijuana, hashish and cocaine are freely available in the country.
According to intelligence sources, about 10 million yaba tablets are now stashed in safe-houses along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border. Yaba pills sell for about Tk. 13 each across the border. The price goes up to Tk. 50-60, by the time the pills reach Dhaka, and sell at a street price of Tk. 350-400 apiece.
Of late, there has been a marked increase in yaba addiction, among students of high schools, colleges and universities. However, given the high cost of these pills, only affluent people can afford them.
A human rights leader said that over a hundred newly married couples have ended their relationships, because of their addiction to yaba. This has also led to an increase in suicides in the SAARC countries, including Bangladesh and India.
Courtesy of The Independent
