Rajshahi:Three individuals have been arrested with 52 kg of cannabis while attempting to smuggle it in a pickup truck in Rajshahi. The operation, carried out by SRB, led to the seizure of the vehicle used for drug transportation and three mobile phones. The estimated market value of the recovered cannabis is Tk 20.80 lakh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the arrests took place during a Friday night operation around 10 pm in the Belpukur Gol Chattar area on the Natore-Rajshahi highway, under the jurisdiction of Belpukur Police Station in the Rajshahi Metropolitan area. The operation was conducted by SRB-5.
The individuals arrested have been identified as Rifat Hossain, 36, from Darga Mohalla of Moulvibazar Sadar Upazila; Ibrahim Khan, 40, from Pratapi village of Kamalganj Upazila; and Jamal Mia, 27, from Jagannathpur village of Sadar Upazila.
A press release from SRB on Saturday morning detailed that a checkpoint had been established on the highway based on secret information. When the pickup truck was signaled to stop, the driver attempted to flee, but SRB members managed to intercept the vehicle and conduct a search.
During their interrogation, the occupants confessed to having drugs in the vehicle. Subsequently, 52 kg of cannabis was recovered from the pickup. The three suspects have been handed over to Belpukur Police Station along with the seized narcotics. A case has been filed at the police station under the Narcotics Control Act.