First cyberspace narcotics case filed over alleged THC-CBD sales on Daraz

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has filed a case against the Daraz MD and a supplier, alleging that products containing THC and CBD, found in cannabis, were being sold through the e-commerce platform.

This is the first case under the narcotics law’s new cyberspace provision, DNC Director General Md Hasan Maruf told The Daily Star.

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The DNC filed the case with Badda Police Station on Sunday (August 16) against Daraz MD; Md Anisur Rahman, a supplier and owner of a factory; and two to three unidentified people.

Ben (Qian) Yi is currently serving as the manager director of Daraz Bangladesh.

The case followed a raid on a flat in Badda’s Satarkul on Sunday, where DNC officials arrested supplier Anisur and recovered a large quantity of THC-infused (tetrahydrocannabinol, main active compound in cannabis that causes intoxication) CBD oil (cannabidiol, another compound found in cannabis) along with materials and equipment allegedly used to make the products.

“Under Section 36A, if anyone commits a narcotics-related crime in cyberspace, we can conduct operations and file cases,” said DNC DG Maruf.

Section 36A of the Narcotics Control (Amendment) Act, 2026 covers the use of websites, social media, mobile applications, digital devices and other online means for narcotics-related sale, supply, advertisement, promotion and other prohibited activities.

Maruf said the DNC wanted the case to create a deterrent effect and make people aware that online platforms could not be used for selling, advertising, delivering or promoting narcotics.

Such activities are punishable offences and, depending on the offence, the punishment can extend to the death penalty, he added.

Asked whether the DNC was monitoring other online platforms for similar activities, Maruf said the agency was trying to do so within its capacity.

According to the case statement, DNC officials received information that products containing cannabis-derived substances were being sold through Daraz. They collected one such product and conducted a preliminary chemical test, which detected THC, the complaint said.

Deputy Director Mehedi Hasan of DNC's Dhaka divisional intelligence office told The Daily Star that the operation was launched immediately after narcotics were detected in the product.

Quoting the arrestee, officials said Anisur had lived in Japan for a long time and had learnt to make oil using a liquid component of cannabis.

Daraz, in a statement issued tonight, said, “Daraz takes product safety, legal compliance, and the trust of our customers seriously. We have strict product governance measures in place to address listings that violate our policies or applicable law.

“We immediately removed the product in question from our platform and penalized the seller as per the platform policy following a verbal complaint from the Department of Narcotics. We have also since been conducting proactive monitoring and sweeps to identify and remove any similar listings.”