ZCZC
BSS-02
DNC-PEDDLERS-FT
DNC scrutinizing financial transaction of drug peddlers
DHAKA, Nov 19, 2018 (BSS) – Department of Narcotic Control (DNC) has
initiated a move to look into financial transactions of some of the listed
drug peddlers to know their presumed involvement in money laundering.
“We are scrutinizing financial transactions of some of the listed drug
peddlers as to mainly confirm whether they are involved in money laundering
or not,” DNC additional director (intelligence) Md Nazrul Islam Sikder told
BSS on Sunday.
Asked about the updated list of drug peddlers, he said they are still
updating the list of drug dealers, adding, “We have got updated list of the
drug peddlers from one third districts across the country.”
But, he declined to divulge more in this regard and said they have earlier
prepared a list of 900 drug peddlers.
However, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is conducting inquiry into
asset details of over 200 listed drug peddlers. But, the drug peddlers have
yet been served with notice seeking asset details.
“We are conducting inquiry into assets of some listed drug peddlers,” ACC
Deputy Director (public relations) Pranab Kumar Bhattacharjee told BSS today.
ACC earlier launched inquiries into assets against over 200 drug traders in
line with the lists sent to the commission by DNC.
Directors of different wings of the national anti-graft agency have been
entrusted with coordinating the activities of the inquiries, Pranab said.
The DNC, in the first phase, sent a list of 465 alleged drug traders in
January, 2017 to initiate inquiries into their assets and in the second
phase, it forwarded a list of 141 suspected drug dealers to the Commission in
January this year.
The DNC has sent the second list of 141 drug dealers to the Commission upon
an allegation that the temporary addresses of drug dealers mentioned in the
list were not found as they used to change their addresses to avoid arrest,
officials said. The second list has been prepared with the permanent
addresses of the drug dealers.
Replying to a query about the DNC’s move in capturing the listed drug
traders, DNC additional director (intelligence) Md Nazrul Islam Sikder
earlier said: “We have already widened our intelligence surveillance across
the country to collect advance information about their movements. We are also
conducting drives based on the information.”
“We are currently working as per the directives of the Home Ministry and
the core committee to prevent the drug trading,” he said.
The government has earlier formed a core committee involving
representatives from all the intelligence agencies, police, Rapid Action
Battalion (RAB), Ansar, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard and the
DNC to monitor the overall activities of different law enforcement agencies
against the abuse of drugs.
Director General (DG) of DNC Mohammod Jamal Uddin Ahmed is the convener of
the core committee.
BSS/SPL/AHJ/GMR/1127 hrs