23,000 drug dealers and 10 million addicts across Bangladesh

Drug abuse has spread from the capital to rural towns across Bangladesh. There is hardly any neighborhood where yaba, heroin, phensedyl, cannabis and other narcotics are unavailable. This destructive addiction has drawn in school, college and university students along with people from nearly every profession.

A survey by the Department of Narcotics Control says that 10 million people out of Bangladesh’s population of 170 million are addicted to drugs. That equals 5.88 percent of the country’s total population.

A coordinated list prepared by the Police, SRB, Border Guard Bangladesh and intelligence agencies shows that 23,036 drug dealers are active across the country. Dhaka Division ranks first with 4,839 dealers. Chattogram Division follows with 4,766 dealers. Sylhet Division has the fewest with 1,197 dealers. Cox’s Bazar has the highest number of drug dealers among all districts. Yaba has become the most preferred drug among addicts nationwide.

Experts say students are now the most vulnerable group affected by drug addiction. They warn that the growing number of addicted students threatens the country’s intellectual future. At a recent event Department of Narcotics Control Director General Md Hasan Maruf said, “Drugs are neither produced nor manufactured in this country. They come from outside. If the entry routes are closed drugs will no longer be available inside the country. If responsibilities are carried out properly and sincerely along those routes it will be possible to stop drugs from entering the country.”

The amount of narcotics entering Bangladesh is far greater than what the Department of Narcotics Control Police and SRB can recover. Anti drug operations continue with limited manpower.

According to the Department of Narcotics Control an updated list published on 17 September showed that Rajshahi Division has 4,235 drug dealers after Dhaka and Chattogram. Khulna has 3,184. Rangpur has 1,969. Mymensingh has 1,609. Barishal has 1,237. Sylhet has 1,197.

Cox’s Bazar has the highest number of drug dealers among all districts. District Department of Narcotics Control Deputy Director Somen Mondal said a list of drug dealers is being prepared and regularly updated in coordination with the Police SRB Border Guard Bangladesh and intelligence agencies.

University of Dhaka teacher and crime expert Dr Towhidul Haque told Agamir Somoy, “The drug network is extremely strong and high level interests are involved with it. It is difficult to break this network because influential groups are connected both at the border and inside the country. Along with law enforcement social resistance must also be built. It will be difficult to control the situation without involving local people.”

He also said, “New people are becoming involved because drug trafficking offers high profits with little investment. People across the country have become hostage to drug dealers. It is difficult to control the situation effectively when dealers return to the same trade after securing bail following arrest.”

Three corridors

At least 105 border points are being used to smuggle yaba heroin and other drugs into Bangladesh. Dhaka remains the main destination for these narcotics. According to the Department of Narcotics Control Annual Report 2025 three major corridors are being used. These include the western and northern borders with India and the southeastern border with Myanmar where phensedyl crystal meth cannabis and other drugs enter the country.

Couriers and online platforms used for distribution

The Department of Narcotics Control report says traffickers use coastal routes and waterways along with land borders to bring drugs into the country. They later distribute them nationwide through courier services and online platforms. Criminals are increasingly relying on social media online marketplaces encrypted messaging apps courier services and digital payment systems for these illegal operations.

Although Bangladesh is not a drug producing country it remains vulnerable to cross border drug trafficking because of its position as a major transit route.

247 drug hotspots in Dhaka

The Department of Narcotics Control has identified 247 locations across eight crime zones in Dhaka Metropolitan Area as drug trading spots. Yaba cannabis ice heroin and phensedyl are sold there every day.

Major hotspots include the Karwan Bazar railway line Geneva Camp in Mohammadpur several Bihari camps in Mirpur and various parks at night. Other identified locations include Badda Mahakhali Tejgaon Turag Shonir Akhra Demra Mugda Khilgaon Sabujbagh Hazaribagh Rayerbazar Gabtoli Bagbari Fakirapul Culvert Slum Golapbagh City Colony slums in Agargaon Gopibagh Methor Patti railway line the road from Sayedabad Janapad intersection to Dayaganj Manda Jatrabari and rickshaw garages across Dhaka.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Media Division Deputy Commissioner Akter Hossain told Agamir Somoy, “Anti drug operations are being carried out regularly in the capital. However permanent solutions will not be possible through operations in Dhaka alone unless drug entry through the borders is stopped.”

CID investigates dealers’ assets

The Criminal Investigation Department is investigating the illegal assets of drug dealers alongside making arrests. The CID Money Laundering Unit is examining the assets of 406 people involved in drug trafficking in Dhaka along with those of their patrons.

The CID said investigators are collecting information on movable and immovable property bank accounts and financial transactions involving the suspects and their relatives. Letters have been sent to relevant agencies seeking this information.

New law expands DNC authority

The report says the Department of Narcotics Control still faces shortages of manpower modern drug detection equipment vehicles and technical capacity for intelligence based operations.

A Department of Narcotics Control official told Agamir Somoy, “Under the amended law the Department of Narcotics Control will have its own cyber unit and dog squad. It will also have broader authority to conduct operations at airports land ports and other important locations. In addition dedicated desks for drug cases will be established at police stations similar to the specialized desks that handle cases involving women and children.”