5 Rohingyas held while attempting to traffic people to Malaysia; 20 rescued
Five Rohingyas were arrested and 20 people rescued after the Bangladesh Coast Guard foiled a human trafficking attempt to Malaysia off Cox’s Bazar.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard has arrested five Rohingyas after they were attempting to traffic people to Malaysia by a trawler in the sea adjacent to Kolatoli beach in Cox's Bazar.
Meanwhile, 20 people, including women and children, were rescued from the trawler.
The information was disclosed in a press release sent to the media today (9 January) by Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, media officer at Coast Guard Headquarters.
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The arrestees are Md Kasim, Md Tayeb, Jafar Ahmed, Md Yasin, and Jahed Hossain. All are from the Rohingya Camp-3 in Kutupalong under Ukhiya upazila.
The officer said around 3am, the Coast Guard received information about a trawler carrying several people for trafficking to Malaysia in the sea adjacent to Kacchapia Ghat under Baharchhara union of Teknaf.
According to Siam-ul-Haq, during the operation, Coast Guard members found the movement of a trawler suspicious and ordered it to stop. Sensing the presence of the Coast Guard, the traffickers increased the speed of the trawler and attempted to flee.
After a chase, the Coast Guard managed to seize the trawler in the sea adjacent to Kolatoli beach.
During a search of the trawler, 20 Malaysia-bound people, including four women and three children, were rescued. Among them, 11 are Rohingyas and nine are Bangladeshis.
"A case has been filed against the traffickers with the Cox's Bazar Sadar Police Station under relevant laws," the officer added.
