A suspected drug peddler was killed in what po-lice said was a gunfight in Teknaf early yesterday.

Russel Mahmud, 36, of Narayanganj, was shot during a police raid in Hoaikong area around 1:30am, said Pradip Kumar Das, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Model Police Station.

He was on his way to buy a haul of yaba pills from suspected local drug dealer Amir Hamaja when police were conducting a drive in the area, the OC added.

Sensing police presence, the drug peddlers opened fire and the officers retaliated, he said.

At one point, the drug peddlers fled the scene and the bullet-ridden body of Russel was found, he added.

He was taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex where the doctors declared him dead, the police official said.

Police found a firearm, 5,000 yaba pills, and several bullets at the scene, he added.