Mohammadpur Geneva Camp: Notorious narcos back in business

Police checkposts stand just before the entrance of Mohammadpur Geneva Camp. A few steps into the camp, it's the same old sight that used to be seen at the notorious drug den of the capital before the 2018 anti-narcotics crackdown.

Once again, youths in small groups can be seen busy looking for potential customers, holding packets full of pink tablets.

The illicit drug trade, which was once an "open-secret" at the camp, has found its way back again, due to lax monitoring of the law enforcement officials, alleged locals.

Ishtiaq Ahmed, known as the drug lord of Geneva Camp, who was forced to stay away after the anti-narcotics crackdown, has reclaimed his illegal business, thanks to some unscrupulous law enforcement officials, according to intelligence and camp sources.

Two years after the "War on Drugs", Ishtiaq is now believed to be running the show from India. Molla Arshad, his second-in-command, mostly takes care of the narcotics network in Dhaka, they added.

Meanwhile, camp residents raised question as to how drug peddlers are selling the contraband pills inside the camp when police checkposts have been set up just outside.

Also known as Bihari Camp, a densely-populated settlement of more than 25,000 Urdu-speaking Biharis, is under Mohammadpur Police Station. The camp is not far from the office of the deputy commissioner of police (Tejgaon division), and Adabor and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police stations. The Rab-2 office is only one and a half kilometres away while the ward councillor's office is within walking distance.

The Daily Star visited the camp thrice recently. The place was found to be a hotspot for yaba trade yet again with small groups of youths waiting for customers.

Visiting the area, these correspondents found several spots at different alleys, which drug-peddlers use as their "points" to sell drugs like yaba, heroin and cannabis.

Going into the Camper Bazar street, right after an eatery, there is an alley on the left side. Half of the alley was crowded with teens and youths selling yaba and cannabis.

"What do you need… brother?" asked a youth, showing a packet of pink tablets to one of the correspondents. They were asking for Tk 300 a pill. When this correspondent did not show any interest, the youth offered a Tk 50 discount.

Locals said this spot is run by one Beji Nadim and his men. Among peddlers, there are Motki Sima and Lombu Monu. Parvez and Kalim Jambu are two drug traders there, they added.

Similarly, more spots were found nearby. Another gathering was seen next to a building where locals meet. From there, drugs were being supplied to various buyers who make the deals over phone.

A man named Langra Sumon runs the spot near a shop of ​​AB block. Two brothers, Raja and Shahjada, assisted him in his yaba business. Top drug dealer Ishtiaq's elder brother Raju, two siblings Mamun and Mahmud and Abir Fatta are the main traders there.

Meanwhile, Imtiaz controlled the drug spot at the corner of a hotel near Tin Rastar Mor while Janu and Tuntun sell drugs near another shop, according to locals.

Many more drugs spots were seen near Gobarpatti Road, Sainik League Junction and multiple areas in C Block. "Hawamath" in the same block is known as the cannabis spot, said locals.

Banned yaba pills were being sold like essentials there before the crackdown. Drug peddling inside the camp was almost shut down for the last two years but dealers are more active than ever before now, camp dwellers said.

At least 150-200 teenagers and youths are involved in drug peddling inside the camp, they added.

"Many youths joined again. They get Tk 500-1,000 per day... As no one obstructs them from selling drugs and no drives are being conducted by law enforcement agencies, they [drug peddlers] became active again," said a camp leader, preferring anonymity.

'RAIDS JUST FOR SHOW'

Camp residents said many raids have been conducted in the last few years. Police, Rab and narcotics department raid there and pick up 50 or even 100 people every time. Most of them are innocents. Some of them take cannabis while some are just small time peddlers, they said.

"The big fishes remain untouched. Who are these big fishes? Everyone knows there names... Apart from Ishtiaq, all live in Dhaka. But police can't seem to find them. Before every raid, the dealers get tipped-off. Why don't you find out the answers as to why drug peddling here goes on unabated even after so many raids," said a frustrated camp resident.

Locals alleged that the drug business inside the camp is run by a nexus of police and narco bosses including Ishtiaq and Arshad.

"How can they sell yaba inside when five police checkposts are setup outside?" questioned a camp resident, alleging that police informants are also involved in drug trade inside the camp.

They also alleged that whenever they handed over Ishtiaq's accomplices to police, officers brought charges showing a small recovery of drugs, helping them get bail within a short time.

On September 23 last year, a section of camp dwellers wrote to the home ministry and Police Headquarters narrating involvement of three officers of Mohammadpur Police Station.

A narcotics official, wishing anonymity, alleged, "Raiding and arresting drug traders in Geneva Camp is a tough job for us as we don't use arms. When we seek help from local police, they get the tip-off."

Recently, a section of camp dwellers wrote to the Prime Minister's Office and Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, mentioning names of some drug dealers and their godfathers and requested the authorities to take action against the ongoing drug trade.

WHAT OFFICIALS SAY

Asked, Walid Hossain, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said they have been conducting anti-narcotics drives in the drug spots, but the peddlers often hid inside the crowded camp and narrow slums to evade arrest. 

Regarding the ongoing situation there, he said, "We will soon conduct a big block-raid in the camp."

Contacted, Syed Hasan Nur Islam, councillor of ward 32 of Dhaka North City Corporation, told The Daily Star that they have been working since 2016 to make the Geneva Camp drug free.

"Our people have handed over many drug dealers to law enforcement agencies. However, due to the current coronavirus outbreak, there is a lag in the effort."

The councillor also sought help of locals in this regard. He hoped that locals will assist law enforcers in arresting drug peddlers and evicting them from the camp.