Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained eight individuals and seized a large consignment of cement being smuggled to Myanmar from the sea area adjacent to the Kutubdia Lighthouse in Cox’s Bazar.
The special operation was conducted at approximately 8am on Thursday.
During the drive, officials recovered 550 bags of cement with an estimated market value of Tk 2.75 lakh, which were being transported to evade customs duties and taxes.
The detained individuals have been identified as Md. Shahjalal (29) of Barguna district; Md Khorshed Alam (30), Sultan (19), Miton Kanti Deb (33), Md Mobarak (33), and Md Kashem (32) of Cox’s Bazar; Md Shahed (19) of Chakaria; and Md Syed (27), a resident of Rohingya Camp 26 in Teknaf.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Suman Al Mukit stated that the operation was carried out based on a secret tip-off. He confirmed that a fishing boat used in the smuggling was also seized, and legal action has been initiated against the detainees. He further added that the Coast Guard’s operations to prevent maritime smuggling and trafficking remain ongoing.
