Drug peddlers outsmarting law-enforcers

Drug addicts get on with their chores in oblivion of their surroundings, a commonplace scenario at the Dhaka University area. PHOTO: Anisur Rahman

In order to avoid being caught by the police, drug peddlers in the city have started adopting new techniques while expanding their area of operation at the same time.

The presence of the anti-social elements and their illegal activities are disrupting the peace of residents in many parts of the city.

"I am always anxious whenever my son visits his friends in Mohammadpur as some spots in that area are notorious for drug peddlers and addicts," said Nazhat Shirin, mother of a 19-year-old.

Over the last decade, locations like the BNP Bazar at Agargaon, Mohammadpur Geneva Camp, Town Hall, Katashur, Shukrabad, Lalmatia, Chankharpul, Tongi truck stand have become ill-famed as drug spots. Also Section 13, Tinshed Colony and some known spots in Mirpur, New Market Post Office area, Katabon, Niketan in Gulshan, Shahzadpur, Nikunjo, FDC, Gulshan Taltola (opposite Shooting Club), Amtoli in Tongi, Choddotoli and City Palli in Sayedabad have emerged as popular destinations for addicts during the past five years.

Previously drugs were usually available in crowded spots like kitchen markets, around government colonies, truck stands and near old Dhaka. An addict just had to visit the area, find a dealer and ask for the drug of his choice. The whole process would have been over within half an hour.

But due to police intervention, the peddlers have resorted to a more discreet procedure. Clients now call up the peddler on his cell phone and the exchange takes place at a fixed location normally decided by the dealer.

"This way he can always make backup plans in case something goes wrong," said a former addict.

Before, drug peddlers operated near their homes, which made it easier for the police to track them down. Now they have the advantage of selecting a meeting place which could be anywhere in the city.

These floating peddlers are very organised and united. They operate in small groups all over the capital.

Peddlers no longer keep drugs in their pockets or nearby hiding places. Rather, they call up their supplier over the cell phone and ask for a certain amount according to the demand from addicts. Deliverymen, who drive around the city in private cars, supply the drugs.

"I visit my supplier at a fixed spot in Karwanbazar whenever I need drugs," said an addict. Some floating peddlers employ street urchins to do their job offering them Tk 20 or more per transaction. This way the peddler can easily escape even if the police catch the child.

"Even though the police know about these groups and their activities, they are too scared to act against them, as they have muscle power and influence," said a young man who stays near the BNP Bazar.

Traditional drugs like heroine, ganja, bhang, phensidyl, morphine, charas, pathedrine, cocaine and some latest ones like tidigesic, tixi, yaba and tablets which mostly act as sedatives and anti-depressants, have flooded the illegal drug world and their sale and use go on without a hitch.

The Department of Narcotics Control is still sitting on its old method of tracking drug peddlers.

"Currently, we do not feel the need to alter our plans in order to arrest these criminals," said Kamaluddin Ahmed, director general of the department.