Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained 10 suspected smugglers and seized a large quantity of essential commodities during an operation aimed at preventing illegal trafficking to Myanmar.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lt Commander Siam-ul-Haq said the arrests were made during a special drive conducted around 1am on Thursday, following intelligence reports.
The operation was carried out by the Coast Guard vessel ‘Joy Bangla ‘in the south-western maritime area near Chhera Dwip adjacent to Saint Martin’s Island.
During the operation, Coast Guard personnel intercepted a suspicious fishing boat and, upon searching it, recovered essential goods worth about Tk32 lakh. The seized items included 27,500 kilograms of lentils, 1,000 kilograms of onions and other daily essential, which were being smuggled to Myanmar by evading customs duties and taxes.
The detained individuals, along with the seized goods and the fishing boat used in the smuggling attempt, are being processed under existing laws, Lt Commander Siam-ul-Haq said.
He added that the Coast Guard would continue such operations to curb smuggling and illegal trafficking in the country’s coastal and maritime areas.
