Ketamine smuggling: 6.44kg drug worth Tk60 crore recovered from FedEx courier service in Tongi
During the operation, officials seized a parcel bound for Italy, which was found to contain a powerful hallucinogenic drug, ketamine
The Department of Narcotics Control arrested two individuals on suspicion of drug trafficking after seizing 6.44 kg of ketamine worth Tk60 crore from FedEx courier service in Tongi.
The arrested were identified as Masudur Rahaman Zilani, 28, from Chadpur, Arifur Rahaman Khoka, 43, from Faridpur.
Khoka is a key figure involved in international drug smuggling, said Hasan Maruf, director general of the Department of Narcotics Control, during a press briefing at its headquarters in Segunbagicha today (7 September).
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Acting on intelligence reports about an international drug trafficking ring using courier services to smuggle narcotics abroad, authorities conducted a raid at the FedEx courier service in Tongi. During the operation, officials seized a parcel bound for Italy, which was found to contain a powerful hallucinogenic drug, ketamine.
Inside the parcel, officers discovered seven white towels soaked with a liquid substance. Subsequent testing confirmed that the towels contained 6.44 kilogramme of dissolved ketamine.
Based on the sender's address, CCTV footage, and other intelligence data, two suspects were arrested.
Speaking on the arrests, the director general of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) identified Khoka as a key figure in the international trafficking ring. Two Android phones and a feature phone were seized from his possession.
During interrogation, Khoka confessed to his involvement in smuggling ketamine via courier services, said the official.
Ketamine is a banned Class-A drug in Bangladesh and was first discovered in the country in 2010. Another major seizure was made by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in 2017.
Deputy Director of the DNC's Intelligence Division Khorshed Alam stated that the ketamine is typically trafficked from India into Bangladesh, and then further smuggled to destinations such as Italy and Spain. According to the arrested suspects, they had previously shipped multiple consignments to Italy.
Authorities revealed that interrogation of the suspects has uncovered the involvement of several other individuals. Legal action will be taken against them following further investigation.
