Two arrested in Joypurhat with 7,500 tapentadol tablets, a third man on the run

A joint team of SRB-5 and 20 BGB has arrested two men in Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat with 7,500 tapentadol tablets. Another man fled during the operation, the authorities concerned said. The recovery of such a large quantity of the drug has caused a stir in the area.

The information was given in a press release sent from the SRB Joypurhat camp on Saturday (October 24) afternoon. According to the release, the raid had been carried out earlier, at around 12:30am on Friday night, in Chenchra village of the upazila.

The arrested men are Abul Kashem (55) and Suruj Mondal (40) of Chenchra village under Bagjana union of Panchbibi upazila. The fugitive has been named as Rifat (23), a resident of Bhuindoba village in the same upazila.

The press release said the joint team acted on a tip-off that several drug dealers in Chenchra village had collected illegal drugs and stockpiled them at home for sale. The raid was planned on the basis of that secret information, the release noted.

During the raid, Abul Kashem and Suruj Mondal were detained as they tried to flee after sensing the presence of the joint force. A total of 7,500 tapentadol tablets were then seized from their possession.

Acting on information given by the two arrested men, the team raided Rifat's home in Bhuindoba village the same night. However, he escaped under cover of darkness after sensing the force's presence, and could not be detained.

The release added that in preliminary interrogation, the two arrested men admitted that they had long been collecting illegal drugs in collusion with each other and selling them in the area. They therefore face allegations not only of stockpiling but of selling across the locality.

A case has been filed against the two arrested men at Panchbibi police station under the Narcotics Control Act. The legal process in the case is proceeding through the police station.

Panchbibi police station officer-in-charge (OC) Tambirul Islam said a case had been filed at the station against the two men arrested with the large quantity of tapentadol tablets. On Saturday afternoon they were sent to jail through the court, he said.