Recurring drives along border fail to stop drug smuggling

Drugs continue to move into the country from across the border despite recurring drives by law enforcement agencies as some 41,000 drug-related cases are pending with lower courts in 10 districts of the southwestern region.

Smuggling of phensidyl, hemp and liquor has been going on relentlessly through different border points of the 10 districts, leading to the piling up of drug-related cases, according to the Divisional Taskforce Committee.

Sources at the committee said some 226 cases are disposed of on average each month.
 
They said 4,542 cases are pending with courts in Khulna district, 1,525 in Bagerhat, 3,067 in Satkhira, 11,288 in Jashore, 3,261 in Jhenaidah, 2,225 in Magura, 1,661 in Narail, 3,237 in Kushtia, 3,301 in Chuadanga and 1,039 in Meherpur district.  All the cases were filed by police and Narcotics Control Department.
 
Besides, 5,576 cases filed by Khulna Metropolitan Police are also pending with different courts.
 
At a recent meeting of the taskforce committee, Divisional Commissioner Lokman Hossain Mia urged all the officials concerned to remain alert to prevent the entry of drugs into the country through border and river routes.
 
The meeting was informed that the authorities concerned of Magura and Narail districts have already taken 16 measures to make the districts free from drugs.
 
The steps include arranging awareness meetings, raising the number of mobile courts to conduct anti-narcotics drives and delivering speech against drug abuse during Khutba (sermons during Friday prayers) by Imams at local mosques.
 
Meanwhile, the district anti-narcotics department started a special drive in Khulna district to arrest 62 ‘drug kingpins’.
 
Besides, anti-narcotics drives are being conducted in commuter trains coming from Benapole, the committee members said.