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An unusual form of drug fraud has emerged in Rajshahi, where ordinary medicines costing about Tk 1 each are being coloured red or pink with markers and sold as yaba tablets for Tk 250-300.
Yaba, a methamphetamine-based stimulant, first emerged as a major drug in Bangladesh in the early 2000s after being smuggled mainly from neighbouring Myanmar. Continued law-enforcement drives against the drug have reportedly reduced the supply in some areas, creating opportunities for fraudsters to sell fake substitutes.
According to an investigation by Sarabangla, the fake yaba is being sold at several locations in Rajshahi, including the ID Baganpara railway-line area, Baro Rasta, Budhpara, Court Dhalan, Guripara and New Market.
The criminals are reportedly using Mayabari, a contraceptive pill, and Duralax, a medicine used to treat constipation, to make the fake tablets. The pills are coloured with marker or sign pens to resemble yaba.
Young people looking for yaba during periods of shortage are among the main victims of the scam.
A drug user, speaking to Sarabangla on condition of anonymity, said he recently bought two tablets at Tk 280 each, believing they were yaba. He later realised they were ordinary medicines after experiencing an unusually strong urge to use the toilet.
Doctors have warned that taking such medicines without medical advice can cause serious health problems.
Dr Md Mehedi Hasan Bhuiyan, a medicine specialist and assistant registrar at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, told Sarabangla that unnecessary use of such medicines could cause severe dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. It could also reduce potassium levels in the body and lead to long-term complications.
He also warned that regular use of contraceptive pills by men could cause hormonal imbalance and other health complications.
Crime analysts said the shortage of genuine yaba following intensified law-enforcement operations may have encouraged criminal groups to adopt such deceptive methods. They said the sale of fake drugs as narcotics could expose users to additional health risks while creating new forms of criminal activity.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Police spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner Gaziur Rahman said their anti-drug operations were continuing against all types of narcotics.
“Not only yaba, but we are conducting operations against all kinds of drugs,” he told Sarabangla. “The metropolitan police have already dismantled several drug-selling spots and arrested many people from those places.”
Asked about the reported sale of Mayabari and Duralax as fake yaba, however, the police official said he was not aware of the matter. He said the issue would be investigated soon.
