The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has seized a consignment of the synthetic drug MDMB for the first time in Bangladesh. The liquid substance is typically consumed by mixing it into vape or e-cigarette cartridges, officials said.
The seizure was announced on Friday at a media briefing at the DNC headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. Director-General Hasan Maruf said the drug had been smuggled into the country from Malaysia by an organised group. "Four people, including the ringleader, have been arrested in connection with the smuggling," he added.
The operation was carried out under Operation Vapour 8, a global intelligence-sharing programme launched by the International Narcotics Control Board in response to the rising use of vapes and e-cigarettes among young people worldwide.
The arrested include university students Khandaker Tawkirul Kabir Tamim (26) and Mehedi Hasan Rakib (26), private sector employee Masum Masfiqur Rahman alias Shahosh (27), and Ashraful Islam (25). Investigators tracked their activities across online marketplaces, social media and the dark web.
Authorities recovered a total of 340ml of MDMB, cannabis-infused chocolates, and vaping devices. Tamim was first arrested on December 10 in Mirpur's Pallabi area with 20ml of the drug. His interrogation led to Rakib's arrest with 10ml of MDMB. Further analysis helped identify Ashraful and Shahosh, who were found with 310ml of MDMB, marijuana chocolates, and related equipment.
Ashraful, a resident of Mirpur's Senpara, reportedly told investigators that he supplied the drug to "elite" clients in Dhaka and sourced it from Malaysia.
