Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard arrested chairman of St Martin's Union Parishad with 12,274 yaba pills in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar early yesterday.

Chairman Mujibur Rahman, also president of the local Awami League unit, was held at his house around 4:00am, said Lieutenant Commander Md Siam-ul-Haq, media officer of Bangladesh Coast Guard Headquarters.

Mujibur is a resident of Westpara in Ward 5 of St Martin's Island, he said.

On information that a large quantity of yaba pills was being stored at Mujibur's house, Coast Guard conducted a raid at his house.

He was apprehended while trying to escape through the back door.

Lieutenant Commander Md Siam-ul-Haq said preparations were underway to hand over the accused to Teknaf Police Station.

Such operations will continue to curb drug trafficking, he added.