Lax Surveillance Amid Covid-19 Crisis: Narcos active again

With law enforcement agencies now busy tackling the coronavirus situation, drug dealers have seemingly taken advantage of the consequent reduction in monitoring and become active again in different spots of the capital.

These correspondents learnt this after visiting some spots and talking to police and Rab sources.

After the countrywide shutdown was enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19, police, Rab, and the Department of Narcotics Control have hardly raided any spots where drugs are traded unless getting specific information. Besides, they also stopped searching suspected people for the sake of health safety.

The number of drug cases has decreased significantly.

Earlier, around 1,400 drug cases were filed with 50 police stations in the capital on average each month, following regular drives. But in April, the number came down to just 123, according to data of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Mohammadpur's Geneva Camp, a densely populated area and home to around 40,000 residents, is infamous for drug trading.

With some coronavirus cases and deaths, the place is one of the high-risk spots for Covid-19 infection. The drug dealers grabbed this opportunity.

A few days ago, drug peddlers in the camp used to sell narcotics in adjacent areas after police crackdown. Now, however, they have started selling again inside the camp, said several sources at the camp.

At least 100 drug peddlers, mostly women, now run this illegal business, while customers are also visiting the camp.

Among the drugs, cannabis, heroin, and yaba pills are on the top of the customers' choice.

Wishing not to be named, a drug peddler said the demand for cannabis is now high with its price doubled. Now, a small pack (puria) of cannabis is being sold for Tk 100. Prices of a yaba tablet are stable, which is available for Tk 250 to Tk 300. Each puria of heroin is being sold for Tk 150.

"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.

While visiting the rail line and Wasa Bhaban areas in Karwan Bazar recently, these correspondents saw young women with babies selling cannabis on the streets in broad daylight.

It was also seen that a drug peddler, selling cannabis, switched quickly to begging from people when she saw a police vehicle arrive.

A shopkeeper there said 10 to 12 women sell cannabis near Wasa Bhaban.

In Mirpur, Jheelpar slum is infamous for drug trading. Eight to 10 people led by one Dulal run the illegal business. Although Dulal lives in Narayanganj, his men control yaba and cannabis trade in the slum.

In Gudaraghat Bazar in Mirpur-1, a poultry seller under cover of his trade is selling drugs by some drug peddlers, said sources.

There are more such spots in Mirpur like road no 9 in "H" block, road no 8 in Sareng Bari, Kingshuk Balur Math, and Shine Pukur Slum.

Drug dealers' attempts amid the shutdown came to light with some recent drug seizures and arrests.

On May 12, Rab recovered 2,475 yaba pills from a person in Shyamoli.

In another drive, the force detained a youth with 700 purias of heroin from Mohammadpur area.

Khorshid Alam, an assistant director of DNC, said they filed at least 150 drug cases in Dhaka north area on March. But in April, it came down to under 50.

"We have to get close to the suspects to catch them, which is unsafe at this time. Some of our colleagues are also in quarantine," the DNC official said.

Masudur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP, said there is monitoring has not become lax, but the current situation is responsible for limiting their activities.