Police recovered 21 cartons of foreign liquor from an abandoned microbus at the Karnaphuli Shah Amanat Setu (New Bridge) area on Thursday evening.
The incident unfolded around 6:30 PM when traffic police signaled a suspicious microbus to stop during a routine checkpoint. The driver parked on the roadside but behaved nervously when asked for his vehicle documents. He then locked the doors, stepped out pretending to make a phone call and suddenly fled when officers peered through the vehicle's windows.
Despite a brief chase by traffic police and local bystanders, the suspect—estimated to be between 30 and 35 years old—managed to escape into the crowded area.
Following the incident officers from the Baklia Police Station arrived at the scene. A joint search by the traffic department and local police revealed 21 cartons of smuggled foreign liquor inside the locked vehicle. Authorities estimate each carton contains 10 to 11 bottles though the exact quantity and market value are still being calculated.
Baklia Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zahidul Kabir confirmed the seizure. "We took the vehicle into custody after the driver abandoned it during a standard document check," he stated.
OC Kabir added that a comprehensive investigation is underway to trace the liquor's origin, its intended destination, and the wider smuggling network involved. Police are actively working to identify and arrest the absconding driver.
