'Cops involved in yaba trade tarnish our image'

Despite warning and punitive actions, a section of unscrupulous police personnel have been involved in yaba peddling, raising concerns among the high-ups of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP).

They fear that the image of CMP is being tarnished due to the activities of some “dishonest” law enforcers, especially amid the government's anti-narcotics drive across the country that began in early May.

On August 31, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-7) arrested two yaba peddlers with 29,285 yaba pills from Mirsarai upazila of Chittagong. They were held while transporting furniture of CMP's Sub-inspector Badruddoza.

During interrogation, the duo told Rab that SI Badruddoza was the owner of that yaba consignment and he asked them to send the pills to the capital in guise of carrying furniture. The police official was later arrested and placed on remand.

On the same day, Kotwali police of the port city arrested three persons including a police constable, Jahirul Islam, with yaba pills from a hotel in Laldighi area.

Later, the constable disclosed that Assistant Sub-inspector Abdul Wadud of the detective branch (north) of CMP supplied the pills for selling.

Back on July 31, Rab in a drive arrested a source of an SI of Bakalia Police Station, Saifuddin, with yaba pills in Bakalia area.

Later, the elite force seized 15,000 tablets from a rented flat of Saifuddin. After the incident, he went into hiding while a case was filed in this connection.

On July 12, detectives arrested Ridwan, a former ASI of CMP, and his three associates from Chandgaon area while peddling yaba.

Ridwan was suspended on November 11, 2016 after being caught with 1,700 yaba pills by officials of DNC.

On April 2, DB men arrested constable Md Kamruzzaman from CMP's Dampara Police Lines after finding his involvement with yaba peddling.

All of the above police personnel except for ASI Wadud were suspended. Allegation against ASI Wadud is under investigation, said police officials.

When asked, CMP Commissioner Md Mahbubur Rahman admitted the involvement of some policemen in yaba peddling. “Those police personnel, who are involved in yaba trade, tarnish our image. We want to identify all the culprits,” he said.

“After I assumed office, three police personnel were sent to jail as they were found involved in drug business,” said the CMP boss. “I won't tolerate dishonest police personnel in any condition. Dishonesty among law enforcers will be dealt with a strong hand.”

Seeking anonymity, several CMP police personnel told this correspondent that a section of policemen misappropriate yaba pills from consignments seized during drives or while being destroyed and later sell them through their sources.

Contacted, Rab-7 Assistant Superintendent of Police Mimtanur Rahaman said, “SI Saifuddin, who was in-charge of Chaktai Police Outpost, used to refrain from showing the seized yaba pills on the seizure list. He sold them to drug peddlers with the help of his sources.”

About steps taken against police personnel misappropriating the seized pills, Deputy Commissioner (north) Hasan Md Shawkat Ali said strict measures would be taken against those found involved.

For example, he said, “Police are investigating the allegations against ASI Wadud. Action will be taken against him after getting a probe report.”