Hunt underway for all 'godfathers' behind drug trafficking: Coast Guard DG

The Bangladesh Coast Guard is working to identify and arrest the all 'godfathers' behind drug trafficking and smuggling, Director General Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Haq said today (18 August).

"We are trying to catch all the godfathers involved in drug trafficking and smuggling. Those involved in drug dealing and smuggling are being arrested, and through them we are trying to reach the godfathers," he said.

He made the remarks at a press conference at the Coast Guard headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, held on the occasion of the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Department of Shipping.

Asked about efforts to prevent drug smuggling, Ziaul said drug use had become a major problem in Bangladesh, while demand for drugs had also increased.

"If there is demand, there will be supply," he added.

The Coast Guard has seized 1.5 crore yaba pills over the past two years, he said, adding that a large number of people involved in drug trafficking had also been arrested.

"We are in a very strong position," Ziaul said, adding that the number of drug traffickers arrested in recent years was, in his view, unprecedented in Bangladesh's history.

He said the government was pursuing a zero-tolerance policy on drugs and that the Coast Guard would continue operations against drug trafficking and smuggling.

A new law to strengthen efforts to curb the drug menace is also in the process of being passed, while the Department of Narcotics Control is being strengthened to make it more effective, Ziaul said.

Earlier, the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Department of Shipping signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation in maritime security, environmental protection and search-and-rescue operations at sea.

Coast Guard Director General Ziaul and Department of Shipping Director General Commodore Md Shafiul Bari signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.