The Department of Narcotics Control, Cox’s Bazar, raided a house belonging to a police officer in the Hajipara area of Jhilongja, near Cox’s Bazar city, recovering 3.5 million taka in cash and 90,000 yaba tablets. The agency detained three people from the same family in connection with the raid, including the police officer’s brother-in-law.
The roughly three-hour operation began around 6 a.m. Monday (Sept. 7), according to officials.
Those detained were identified as Ashiq Momen Mehedi, 23, Sadia Farhana, 23, and Simon Sarwar, 16.
Witnesses said Ashiq Momen Mehedi, who was detained, is the brother-in-law of Sub-Inspector Shahid of Cox’s Bazar court police. He is the son of Shamsul Alam of Hnila union, Teknaf. Police officer Shahid built the house in Jhilongja’s Hajipara area about seven or eight years ago, and Ashiq Momen Mehedi, who was detained in Monday’s raid, lived there with his family.
Local resident and Jubodal leader Amir Ali said police officer Shahid’s brother-in-law, Momen Mehedi, has been trafficking drugs for a long time with the officer’s complicity. He said that when some local youths recently learned a large quantity of yaba was being stockpiled at the police officer’s house and protested, officer Shahid instead prepared to file mugging charges against those youths. When the matter was reported to the police station, police took up the mugging complaint rather than the drug-stockpiling allegation.
Amir Ali further said the informant later reported the drug stockpile at the police officer’s house to the Department of Narcotics Control, Cox’s Bazar, which then carried out Monday’s early-morning raid and recovered the large quantity of drugs and cash.
Somen Mandal, director of the Department of Narcotics Control, Cox’s Bazar, said those found to have initial involvement in the raid have been detained. He said if the homeowner — the police officer — is found to be involved during the investigation, he too will be made an accused.