Thakurgaon: The Bangladesh Army today detained a youth with 470 pieces of yaba tablets, a pistol, blank stamps, foreign currency, and a Chinese axe from a cooperative society in Thakurgaon. The operation was conducted around 4 am at Shibganj Bazar under Jamalpur Union in Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the detainee, identified as Md. Mukul, son of Ainul Munshi of Madhya Parpugi village, was arrested from the office of “Adarsha Khudro Samabay Samiti,” a local cooperative society allegedly involved in illegal activities. Acting on intelligence, an army team from the temporary Thakurgaon camp, led by Captain Md. Mehedi Hasan, executed the raid and cordoned off the cooperative premises.
The troops recovered 470 yaba pills, a pistol, 600 signed blank stamps, 30 foreign coins, six foreign currency notes, a Chinese axe, and a baton. The estimated market value of the seized yaba pills is around Tk 2 lakh. Military sources indicated that the cooperative had been under surveillance for operating illegal drug business and money-lending operations under the guise of a legitimate business.
Victims were reportedly enticed with loan offers and forced to sign blank stamps, while defaulters were allegedly intimidated with weapons. The group had even installed CCTV cameras throughout the market to discreetly monitor public movements. The detained individual was later handed over to the local police along with the seized items for legal proceedings.
Confirming the incident, Executive Magistrate Akhtaruzzaman stated, “The army conducted a raid at Shibganj Bazar early this morning and arrested the director of the cooperative with yaba, a pistol, and foreign currency. Legal procedures are underway.”