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A 65-year-old woman has been arrested with 100 grams of heroin worth an estimated Tk10 lakh after the drug was allegedly found hidden inside her clothes during a search of a bus in Dhaka’s Dholaipar area.
The arrested woman was identified as Masuma Khatun. The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) said she was carrying the heroin from Jashore to Dhaka on the instructions of her daughter, Tahmina.
DNC Assistant Director (Dhaka Intelligence Division) Mostak Ahmed confirmed the arrest on Wednesday.
According to the DNC, a team led by Mostak Ahmed stopped a Jashore-bound-to-Dhaka ‘Narail Express’ bus near Dholaipar Roundabout at around 7:20pm on Tuesday following a tip-off that a woman was carrying a heroin consignment.
The team detained Masuma, who was seated in the middle of the bus, and searched her. At one stage of questioning, she reportedly admitted to carrying heroin. With the assistance of female DNC officials, a polythene packet wrapped in Scotch tape was recovered from inside her clothing.
The packet contained 100 grams of heroin. A mobile phone was also seized from her possession.
During preliminary questioning, Masuma allegedly told investigators that her daughter Tahmina had pressured her to transport drugs and had instructed her to bring the heroin from Jashore to Dhaka. She also reportedly admitted to carrying heroin in the same manner on two previous occasions.
The DNC said its preliminary investigation found information suggesting Tahmina’s involvement in drug trafficking in the Jatrabari area. Investigators are now working to verify the information and locate her.
Officials said they were also examining whether the use of elderly women and family members to transport drugs was part of an organised trafficking network. Efforts are underway to identify the source of the heroin, its intended destination and other people involved in the operation.
A case has been filed against Masuma under the Narcotics Control Act. The DNC said further investigation, including analysis of the seized mobile phone and other intelligence, will be used to identify the drug suppliers and their associates.