Bangladesh border force seizes huge quantity of narcotics

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DHAKA, Bangladesh

Bangladesh's border security forces on Thursday seized a huge quantity of narcotics in southern district of Cox’s Bazar.

According to a statement by Border Guards Bangladesh, the total value of the 410,000 Yaba drug pills confiscated is 123 million Bangladeshi taka (approximately $1.5 million) in the local market.

The guards, however, could not catch the smugglers who fled to a nearby hilly forest, leaving the drugs and some local arms behind, the statement said.

The border forces said it has recovered over 2.6 million pieces of Yaba pills worth nearly 790 million takas ($9.4 million) since January.

Last week, law enforcers arrested a popular film actress, two female models, and a top film producer with drugs, including Yaba pills, in the capital Dhaka.

Thousands of people, particularly young Bangladeshis, have become hooked on red or pink Yaba pills in recent years, despite efforts against its use and smuggling.

Yaba is a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine, and is said to be manufactured illicitly in Myanmar.