Bangladesh’s Directorate of Narcotics Control (DNC) has busted a sophisticated drug trafficking ring that smuggled the dangerous party drug MDMA, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, into the country from the UK cleverly concealed inside parcels labeled as “imported chocolates.”
Five individuals, including the alleged mastermind and a prominent DJ party organizer, were arrested in coordinated raids across Dhaka. Authorities seized 317 MDMA tablets, 1.6 kg of Kush, 250 grams of marijuana, five bottles of Ketamine, Tk 7.11 lakh in cash, six mobile phones, and a laptop used to coordinate encrypted communications.
The arrests followed a months-long intelligence operation targeting a network catering to Dhaka’s elite youth, students from top private universities and English-medium schools, who frequented underground DJ parties where “B-class” narcotics like MDMA and Ketamine were openly distributed.
‘Chocolates’ that kill
At a press conference held Monday afternoon at DNC headquarters in Segunbagicha, Director General Md Hasan Maruf revealed how the syndicate exploited international postal services to evade detection.
“On September 14, our team intercepted an air parcel from the UK at the Old Post Office under Paltan Model Police Station. Inside a carton of branded foreign chocolates, hidden beneath bubble wrap, we found 317 reddish MDMA tablets neatly packed in a transparent polybag.”
The recipient? Md Zubair, 28, identified as a central node in the network. He was arrested shortly after in the Dhaka Udyan area.
According to his confession, the parcel was sent by a UK-based associate named “Aranya,” using the name and mobile number of Apurba Roy, 25, a local accomplice, as the recipient. Zubair was promised Tk 50,000 for delivery to GM Prothit Shams, 25, the alleged party organiser and distribution hub.
Prothit had already paid Tk 15,000-16,000 in three installments via bKash.
Tech-savvy traffickers, encrypted chats
Using digital forensics and field surveillance, DNC traced Prothit Shams to Segunbagicha and arrested him with additional narcotics. Based on his interrogation, raids expanded.
Early Monday morning, Asif Mahbub Chowdhury, 27, was captured at his residence with drugs and cash. Apurba Roy and Syed Shayan Ahmed, 24, were also nabbed, the latter linked to multiple shipments of MDMA and marijuana.
DG Maruf emphasised the group’s sophistication: “They’re educated, tech-savvy, and from affluent backgrounds. They used WhatsApp, Telegram, and other encrypted apps to coordinate. Their clients? The sons and daughters of privilege — attending elite parties where drugs are status symbols.”
A growing threat
MDMA, known on the street as “Ecstasy” or “Molly”, is classified as a ‘Kha’ (Class B) narcotic in Bangladesh. It induces euphoria and heightened sensory perception but carries severe risks: dehydration, heart failure, psychosis, and death.
Its infiltration into upscale social circles marks a disturbing shift in Bangladesh’s drug landscape — from street-level abuse to curated, high-end distribution.
“This isn’t just about drugs. It’s about protecting our youth from a silent epidemic disguised as glamour,” said a senior DNC official.
The bigger picture
The bust is part of a broader DNC campaign targeting “designer drug” networks exploiting e-commerce and global logistics. With Bangladesh’s rising middle class and porous postal systems, traffickers have found new avenues and new victims.
All five accused will be charged under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, which carries penalties up to life imprisonment or death for large-scale trafficking.
As encrypted chats are decrypted and financial trails followed, authorities warn: more arrests are imminent.
The five accused
Md Zubair, 28, main courier and logistics handler; GM Prothit Shams, 25, party organiser and distributor; Asif Mahbub Chowdhury, 27, storage and local supplier; Syed Shayan Ahmed, 24, shipment coordinator; and Apurba Roy, 25, false recipient and facilitator.