Chemist arrested for selling banned drugs via online ads

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has arrested a chemist named Anisur Rahman for allegedly selling THC—a banned narcotic substance—under the guise of "CBD Oil" and aromatic oils on an online shopping platform. DNC officials stated that this is the country's first case filed under the amended law concerning the sale of narcotics via online platforms.

According to DNC sources, Anisur Rahman was arrested during a raid on a flat in the Satarkul area of Badda in the capital on Sunday (August 16). From the premises, officers recovered 620 milliliters of THC with an estimated market value of around 60 lakh BDT. Additionally, equipment used for preparing and bottling the drugs, 50 glass bottles, packaging materials featuring the Daraz logo, a computer, and a mobile phone were seized.
DNC officials revealed that an investigation was launched after discovering a product listed as "CBD Oil" on the online platform Daraz. As part of the operation, officers posed as buyers and placed an order. Samples of the liquid obtained through the delivery agent were sent for chemical testing, which identified high concentrations of THC. Although presented under a different name on the website, tests confirmed the presence of THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis.

According to the case statement, an order for three glass bottles containing a total of 60 milliliters of liquid was placed on August 16. Delivery worker Md. Nayeem brought the parcel to a designated spot on Topkhana Road in the Segunbagicha area. Upon searching the parcel, officers recovered three glass bottles. During questioning, Nayeem stated that he had collected the parcel from a flat in Badda's Satarkul and was unaware that it contained narcotics. As no evidence of his involvement in drug trafficking was found, he was released.

The DNC filed a case regarding the incident at Badda Police Station on Monday (August 17 ). The Managing Director of Daraz along with several unnamed individuals have been named as accused in the case. DNC officials noted that this marks the first case of its kind since the inclusion of buying and selling drugs using digital or cyberspace as a punishable offense under the amended Narcotics Control Act.

Investigators stated that the arrested Anisur Rahman is a chemist by profession. Preliminary investigations reveal that he had been selling THC under the names "CBD Oil" and "Aromatic Oil" via online platforms for a long time. Officials involved in the investigation mentioned that data shows nearly 405 bottles of THC were sold through Daraz over a period of five years. The DNC affirmed that monitoring will be intensified to prevent the buy and sell of drugs on online platforms.