Drug lords remain untouched for lack of technology

Law enforcement agencies arrest drug peddlers every day in different drives, but most of the drug lords who run the illegal trade cannot be traced due to a lack of technical support – claims the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC). 

In this situation, to detect the drug rings and the masterminds behind them, the DNC has proposed to buy a mobile tracker system. 

The anti-narcotics authority of the country has also taken steps to set up a digital forensic centre so that they can check the history of a digital device used by narcotics dealers or traders.  

Confirming the development, Md Mehedi Hasan, assistant director of DNC, told The Business Standard on Tuesday that they have already started the process of setting up a digital forensic centre and buy a mobile tracker system to intensify anti-narcotics operations. 

The Director-General of DNC approved to form a committee to work on the issue a day ago said the DNC official. 

The committee will be formed with representatives from the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), home ministry, post, telecommunication and information technology ministry, police and Rapid Action Battalion, he said. 

In a letter addressing the secretary of BTRC, DNC Director-General Muhammad Ahsanul Jabbar said that the agency has already received approval from the home ministry for setting up a lawful interception facility as it often becomes difficult to trace the actual position of narcotics traders in absence of a tracker. 

He further mentioned that if the BTRC approves to buy a tracker for the agency, then it would be easier to bring the masterminds of narcotics trade to justice. 

Assistant Director of DNC, Mehedi Hasan said that the mobile tracking system will not only allow them to trace the actual position of the dealer but also the communication details, and the masterminds behind the smuggling racket. 

Regarding the digital forensic centre, Mehedi said, "In many cases, the accused removes the contents of the cell phone after communication. We will be able to recover the contents after we can set up the centre successfully," he explained. 

"The mobile tracker and forensic centre will increase the strength of DNC operation," he added. 

Officials claimed that the DNC have already increased their vigilance and anti-narcotics drives which have resulted in the seizing of more yaba pills. 

According to the DNC, around 3.71 lakh yaba tablets were seized in November and 3.33 lakh in October of this year. The figure was only 1.40 lakh in July and 1.74 lakh in August. Around 3.18 crore yaba tablets were recovered during the 11-months of this year while the figure was 3.46 crores in 2019. 

Around 5.30 crore yaba tablets were seized in 2018, 4.79 crores in 2017 and 2.94 crores in 2016.

Md Bazlur Rahman, assistant director (operation) of DNC, told The Business Standard that the number of seized yaba tablets has increased than before as they increased their vigilance and activities. 

"We are adopting new techniques every day so that the narcotics traders do not get chances to smuggle the yaba," he claimed. 

However, Md Bazlur Rahman did not disclose the details of their operation techniques for security reasons. 

Meanwhile, the DNC authority is planning to conduct a dope test among the agency officials so that they can mark the officials who are taking drugs. 

"We are planning to start the dope test from 2 January of 2021," said a senior official of DNC, requesting anonymity.