The special task force of the state police seized 29,700 pieces of Yaba tablets — a potent addictive stimulant — and arrested five persons in this connection late on Saturday here.

The consignment of tablets worth around Rs 30 lakh was allegedly brought from the Northeast and was supposed to be smuggled to Bangladesh via the international border in Malda district’s Kaliachak, said a source in the STF.

An STF team intercepted two cars at Sustani More on NH12 on the outskirts of Malda town.“The vehicles were searched and three con¬tainers, each with 9,900 pieces of Yaba tablets, were found. All five occupants in the two cars were arrested,” said a source in the STF.

Those arrested are Abul Kalam Azad, Shahzad Ali and Ainul Sheikh of Barpeta in Assam, and Kayim Sheikh and Moazzem Hossain of Kaliachak.

Yaba tablets have a huge demand among substance abusers in Bangladesh.