Patuakhali, Feb. 28 -- Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and Coast Guard in a joint operation detained 16 suspected drug dealers and seized four lakh pieces of Yaba tablets from the Bay of Bengal near Kuakata of Patuakhali.

According to a media release issued on Friday and signed by Lt. Com Tanvir Azmal Hridoy, staff officer of the Coast Guard South Zone, the operation continued for the past two days.

The joint forces intercepted a fishing trawler near Lambur forest area and recovered one lakh pieces of Yaba pills kept in a sack on Thursday night; reads it.

16 suspects were detained from the trawler in this connection.

Moreover, three lakh pieces of Yaba pills were found abandoned in three sacks within the Lambur forest on Wednesday, accor...