Lalmonirhat, March 17 -- With Eid approaching, drug smuggling and sales have surged again in Lalmonirhat, exposing the limits of ongoing crackdowns in a district long plagued by cross-border smuggling.

Despite a declared zero-tolerance stance and repeated anti-drug drives, authorities are struggling to rein in the flow of narcotics, as organised networks adapt quickly to enforcement measures.

Bordering India for nearly 281 kilometres across five upazilas, parts of Lalmonirhat remain vulnerable due to unfenced stretches and porous points, allowing smugglers to exploit gaps with ever-evolving tactics.

Even in fenced areas, traffickers continue to bring in contraband under the cover of darkness, said locals.

Law enforcers and locals said...