New drug circulating in port city: Rab

Members of law enforcement agencies in Chattogram have expressed concern over the recent smuggling of a new kind of drug, phenethylamine, a powder like substance similar to cocaine, in the country, after recovery of a consignment.

Though they have no previous record of seizing such drug, they have already started investigation to find out its smuggling routes, its Bangladeshi rackets and consumers.

The name of the drug came to the light after Rapid Action Battalion (Rab-7) on August 11 arrested a man with 777 grammes of phenethylamine from the port city's Foy's Lake area.

Arrestee Md Firoj Khan (37), hailing from Patiya upazila, is a fourth-grade employee of an educational institution in the city.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Mashkur Rahman of Rab-7 told The Daily Star, "We had information that few drug peddlers gathered in Foy's Lake area. We arrested Firoj from the spot with a bag while raiding the area."

The Rab official said another 12-gramme of the substance were seized his residence afterwards.

Lt Col Mashiur Rahman, commanding officer of Rab-7, said, "We thought it was cocaine, but after conducting tests at Rab Headquarters, we confirmed that it was phenethylamine."

"We have also talked to the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) and they confirmed it," he added.

Rab officials said phenethylamine is a "Class-A drug" according to the classification of drugs prepared by DNC in 2018. Rab claimed that the seized phenethylamine is worth Tk 12.19 crore.

"During interrogation, Firoj said he collected the substance from a man and was waiting in Khulshi area for other drug peddlers," added the CO.

ASP Mashkur said, "The arrestee failed to disclose the route or its origin. But he told investigators about involvement of a racket."

Rab officials said phenethylamine has similar effect like that of heroin and cocaine. Peddlers sold those as cocaine since it's also a powder like substance.

This correspondent talked to several police officials in metro and districts in this regard. They said they have been informed about it and are investigating the matter.

A case was lodged with Khulshi Police Station in this regard.

According the webMD.com, phenethylamine stimulates the body to make certain chemicals that play a role in depression and other psychiatric conditions. However, too much phenethylamine might cause side effects similar to the drug amphetamine.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said "Phenethylamines refer to a class of substances with documented psychoactive and stimulant effects and include amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA, all of which are controlled under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances."

It also said seizing of substituted phenethylamines were first reported from the United States and Europe.