Google Alert – Bangladesh Army
Myanmar’s AA involved with syndicates; nightly trawler movements tracked by radar, says BGB
Essential goods like rice, fertiliser, and medicines are being quietly smuggled into Myanmar by a syndicate working with the Arakan Army (AA). In return, yaba, crystal meth, and other narcotics pour into Bangladesh, according to BGB and home ministry sources.
An intelligence report says four to five heavy trawlers depart daily from jetties in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar for AA-controlled areas in Myanmar’s Naikhondia to deliver the goods. They come back with narcotics.
“Around 80 percent of these drugs are trafficked by sea. We now have strong digital footprints of these smuggling operations.”
— Col Mohiduddin Ahmed, BGB Ramu Sector Commander
Rohingyas, who know the routes, reportedly act as carriers.
The matter came up at a recent law and order meeting at the home ministry.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Home Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the goods are trafficked not only from Cox’s Bazar and Chattogram but also from Barguna, Patuakhali and Bhola.
“As much of the trafficking takes place through the sea, the navy and coast guard have been instructed to stop it at any cost.”
On August 29, a Bangladesh Navy warship intercepted a suspicious trawler but missed three others believed to be smuggling cement. On September 15, the navy stopped another trawler 12 nautical miles off Saint Martin’s Island, carrying 11 traffickers and potatoes, garlic and lentils.
BGB officials said that with strict monitoring along the Naf River and land borders, traffickers have shifted to maritime routes. Nearly 80% of smuggling along the Bangladesh-Myanmar frontier now takes place by sea and is tracked using radar surveillance.
Radar footage also revealed suspicious movements of Bangladeshi trawlers in Myanmar waters, BGB sources said.
A senior official said sometimes even around two dozen trawlers bypass Saint Martin’s in a single night to deliver goods.
He explained that since fighting broke out in November 2023 between Myanmar’s junta and ethnic groups, the Arakan Army has seized nearly 80 percent of the Rakhine State.
Myanmar’s military then cut off supply lines, creating near-famine conditions. “To fill the shortages, the AA now depends heavily on supplies from Bangladesh, offering drugs in exchange.”
At a press briefing in Cox’s Bazar last week, BGB’s Ramu Sector Commander Colonel Mohiduddin Ahmed said, “The Naf River, Ukhiya-Teknaf border, and sea routes through Maheshkhali, Banshkhali, Kutubdia, Anowara and Kuakata are now major corridors for trafficking yaba, crystal meth and other narcotics.”
He alleged that the AA is directly involved in yaba trafficking, with smuggling increasing also through remote areas of Bandarban’s Naikhongchhari.
“Rohingyas are the main traffickers. They move very fast, which makes it difficult to catch them. Some unscrupulous people here, driven by profit, are bringing yaba from the AA.”
According to official data, 98 lakh yaba pills and 40kgs of crystal meth were seized in 2024. In the first four months of 2025 alone, 53 lakh yaba pills and 2kgs of crystal meth have been recovered.
Since August, Coast Guard operations in the waters off Saint Martin’s, Cox’s Bazar, Kutubdia, Chattogram’s Banshkhali, Patenga and Halishahar have led to around 67 arrests. Goods seized during the raids included cement, construction materials, potatoes, lentils, garlic and medicines, along with yaba consignments.
Coast Guard officials said traffickers admitted to trading essential goods with the AA for drugs but often pretend they were captured. “They secretly return and hand over narcotics to local dealers. Several such networks are involved,” they said in a statement.