Guyana national detained with 8.5kg cocaine worth Tk130cr at Dhaka airport
This is now the largest such consignment seized in the country's history.
Authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) in Dhaka have detained a foreign national after seizing a large quantity of cocaine -- 8.5kg -- worth an estimated Tk130 crore, the largest such consignment of this contraband seized in the country's history.
The passenger, identified as Karen Petula Stuffle from Guyana, was arrested early today (26 August), according to a press release issued by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID).
It said that officers discovered 8.5 kilograms of cocaine in her possession during a security check.
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On 24 January 2024, a Malawian woman was arrested with 8.3 kilograms of cocaine -- with an estimated market value of over Tk100 crore -- at the Dhaka airport after she arrived on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha.
Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) officials at the time had said that Bangladesh was being used as a transit point for domestic and foreign members of an international cocaine smuggling syndicate.
Regarding today's seizure, CIID said they increased vigilance after receiving a tip-off that a passenger on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha, suspected to be involved in drug trafficking, was en route to Dhaka.
Based on the information, customs officials identified Stuffle after the flight landed at the airport around 2:30am today and took her into custody. Officers scanned her luggage and discovered 22 oval-shaped foil-wrapped packets of cocaine inside three big jars.
The press release noted that the content inside the packets was subsequently confirmed to be cocaine by the airport unit of the DNC.
The recovery was made in the presence of officials from various intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Stuffle, along with the seized cocaine, was later handed over to the Airport Police Station. A case in line with relevant laws will be filed against, said the release.
Previous incidents
Seizure of cocaine has grown in the country over the years.
In June 2023, an Indian national was arrested at the Dhaka airport with 1,800 grams of cocaine in her possession.
In 2020, the Rapid Action Battalion busted a gang of drug dealers who had 2kgs of cocaine in their possession.
In 2017, 750 grams of cocaine were seized from a FedEx parcel at the airport, which came from Uganda's Kampala via Dubai.
In 2015, Bangladesh anti-drugs officers seized 3 kilograms of cocaine from the Dhaka airport and arrested a foreign national on suspicion of smuggling.
In June 2015, at Chattogram Port, liquid cocaine from Bolivia was found concealed in sunflower oil drums shipped in a container.
In June 2013, a citizen of Peru was apprehended from a hotel in Dhaka's Karwan Bazar area with 3 kg of cocaine.
