Chemist arrested for selling banned drugs via Daraz ads

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has arrested a chemist named Anisur Rahman for allegedly selling the banned drug THC on the online shopping platform Daraz under the name 'CBD Oil' and aromatic oils. The agency claims this is the first case in the country under the amended narcotics law involving the sale of drugs through an online platform.

DNC sources said Anisur Rahman was arrested during a raid at a flat in the Satarkul area of Dhaka's Badda on Sunday, August 16. A total of 620 millilitres of THC was recovered from the flat, with an estimated market value of approximately Tk 60 lakh. Various equipment for preparing and bottling the drug, 50 glass bottles, packets bearing the Daraz logo, a computer and mobile phones were also seized.

DNC officials said an investigation was launched after a product labelled 'CBD Oil' was found for sale on the Daraz website. As part of the investigation, officials placed an order for the product posing as customers. The liquid substance received via Daraz's delivery personnel was sent for chemical testing, which revealed high levels of THC. Although the product was presented under a different name on the website, tests confirmed it contained THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis.

According to the case complaint, an order was placed on August 16 for a total of 60 millilitres of liquid in three glass bottles. Daraz delivery personnel Md Naeem later brought the parcel to a designated location in the Topkhana Road area of Segunbagicha. Three glass bottles were recovered from the parcel during a search. During questioning, Naeem said he had collected the parcel from a flat in the Satarkul area of Badda and was unaware that it contained drugs. He was released as no evidence of his involvement in the drug trade was found.

DNC filed a case with Badda Police Station in Dhaka on Monday, August 17. The case names the managing director of Daraz and several others as unidentified accused. According to DNC officials, this is the first such case since the inclusion of drug trafficking through digital or cyberspace as a punishable offence under the amended Narcotics Control Act.

Investigators said preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested individual, Anisur Rahman, is a chemist by profession and had been selling THC under the names 'CBD Oil' and 'Aromatic Oil' through online platforms for a long time. Officials said the investigation has also revealed information about approximately 405 bottles of THC being sold through Daraz over a period of five years. The DNC said surveillance will be further intensified to prevent drug trafficking on online platforms.