Illegal weed trading controlled from Saudi Arabia | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
May 28, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025
Illegal weed trading controlled from Saudi Arabia

Bangladesh

Nurul Amin and Zia Chowdhury 
12 October, 2019, 10:50 am
Last modified: 12 October, 2019, 11:15 am

Related News

  • Apex court declares appointment of administrator and board at Nagad illegal
  • Bitcoin falls below $80,000 first time since November
  • 'Govt is accountable to investors, not the other way around'
  • Mobile court evicts 70 illegal establishments in Mongla Port
  • Karnaphuli River threatened by illegal encroachment amid weak monitoring

Illegal weed trading controlled from Saudi Arabia

The kingpin of the gang used to operate the illegal business from inside the country for a long time.

Nurul Amin and Zia Chowdhury 
12 October, 2019, 10:50 am
Last modified: 12 October, 2019, 11:15 am
Photo: Collected
Photo: Collected

A group of drug smugglers living in Saudi Arabia controls the illegal business of weed in Bangladesh.

The group, led by one Zakir Hossain (not his real name), operates the illegal business here with the help of their associates in the capital. 

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has recently come to know about the weed smuggling racket.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

According to the DB sources, Zakir – the kingpin of the gang – used to operate the illegal business from inside the country for a long time.

Following law enforcers' intensified drives against drug traffickers, Zakir escaped from Cumilla and managed to cross the border, they said adding, "he then reached Saudi Arabia via India."

DB sources, who are working with Illegal Drug Recovery Unit, went on to inform that the gang earlier used to carry weed consignments to Dhaka through Dhaka-Chattogram highway, however, they have changed the route on Zakir's instructions.

Most of the weed consignments now enter the country through the border of Cumilla's Bijaynagar area. Then, those illegal drugs are taken to the capital in accordance with the demand of retail consumers or addicts.  

The consignments are carried directly to Mymensingh from Bijaynagar and from there those are taken to Dhaka city via Gazipur or Tangail. 

Based in Dhaka, the gang also sends weed to Bagura and other northern districts of the country on demand. 

Mahabubur Rahman, an assistant commissioner of the DB, told The Business Standard that they had seized more than 1,300 kilograms of smuggled weed since January 2018. 

"Zakir uses different types of apps and communication tools to communicate with his associates. We were tracing him but unfortunately, he managed to escape," he said.

"We are trying to bring him back from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. If we can do it, the entire racket will be unravelled," added Mahabubur. 

According to law enforcement sources, in border areas of Cumilla's Bijaynagar, one kilogram of weed is sold to the gang members just for Tk10,000. The price rises to Tk60,000 at the consumer level after it changes hands twice or thrice before reaching them. A single dose of weed (known as puria) weighing 25gm sells for more than Tk1,000 in the capital at present.

The DB has arrested more than twenty weed peddlers in the last one and a half years. All of them hail from Cumilla's Bijaynagar.

At least 14 cases have been filed against them with different police stations, under Narcotics Control Act-2018. 

DB sources said most of the dwellers of Singarbeel and Nolgowria villages of Bijaynagar are involved in weed peddling. 

Top News

Illegal / weed / trading

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Inflation, exchange rate shocks to intensify fiscal pressure in FY26
    Inflation, exchange rate shocks to intensify fiscal pressure in FY26
  • File photo of jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam
    ATM Azharul Islam set free after acquittal in war crimes case
  • Google Pay. Photo: Collected
    Google Pay likely coming to Bangladesh soon

MOST VIEWED

  • Selim RF Hussain. Sketch: TBS
    BRAC Bank MD Selim RF Hussain resigns
  • Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur. TBS Sketch
    Depositors need not worry as govt will take over banks before merger: BB governor
  • Graphics: TBS
    Suspicious banking activities surge by 56% since July: Cenbank
  • Photo: Collected
    DU student assaulted for protesting eve-teasing at Chadni Chowk
  • Illustration: TBS
    Bangladesh sees highest-ever per capita income of $2,820 in FY25, BBS provisional data shows
  • Officials protest inside the Secretariat on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, over a government ordinance amending the Public Service Act, 2018. Photo: Rajib Dhar
    Protest at Secretariat suspended as govt assures decision on ordinance tomorrow

Related News

  • Apex court declares appointment of administrator and board at Nagad illegal
  • Bitcoin falls below $80,000 first time since November
  • 'Govt is accountable to investors, not the other way around'
  • Mobile court evicts 70 illegal establishments in Mongla Port
  • Karnaphuli River threatened by illegal encroachment amid weak monitoring

Features

In recent years, the Gor-e-Shaheed Eidgah has emerged as a strong contender for the crown of the biggest Eid congregation in the country, having hosted 600,000 worshippers in 2017. Photo: TBS

Gor-e-Shaheed Boro Maath: The heart of Dinajpur

1d | Panorama
The Hili Land Port, officially opened in 1997 but with trade roots stretching back to before Partition, has grown into a cornerstone of bilateral commerce.

Dhaka-Delhi tensions ripple across Hili’s markets and livelihoods

2d | Panorama
Photo: Collected

Desk goals: Affordable ways to elevate your study setup

2d | Brands
Built on a diamond-type frame, the Hornet 2.0 is agile but grounded. PHOTO: Asif Chowdhury

Honda Hornet 2.0: Same spirit, upgraded sting

2d | Wheels

More Videos from TBS

How protecting Dhaka’s rivers and canals from plastic waste

How protecting Dhaka’s rivers and canals from plastic waste

41m | TBS Programs
Jamaat leader ATM Azhar released from prison after 13 years

Jamaat leader ATM Azhar released from prison after 13 years

1h | TBS Today
Trump delays 50% tariffs on EU goods

Trump delays 50% tariffs on EU goods

11h | Others
Eid may be celebrated in Bangladesh on June 7

Eid may be celebrated in Bangladesh on June 7

12h | TBS Today
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net