DNC launches anti-drug campaign

A team of seven members are working in Teknaf to control the main route of yaba smuggling into the country from Myanmar, said Jamal Uddin Ahmed, director general of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC). 

“We lacked manpower in Teknaf but now we are trying to establish an organisational zone there,” he said at a press conference.

DNC organised the press conference at its headquarters in the capital to launch a month-long campaign against drugs.

Besides, a taskforce involving members of different law enforcing and security agencies are conducing raids in the area, the DG added.

“We are trying to ensure accountability of our employees…Actions will be taken against those who will be found negligent in performing their duties,” the DG said while replying to journalists' queries about field level DNC officials.

There is a guesstimate that around 70 lakh people in the country are addicted to drugs and 30 percent of them are female, the DG said.

The DNC chief said 39,585 raids were conducted across the country last year to reduce drug supply and 12,651 drug offenders were arrested. A total of 11,612 cases were also filed.

Meanwhile, 25,355 patients last year received treatment at 213 centers, including four of the DNC, for rehabilitation, he added.