Coast Guard arrests nine smugglers in cox’s bazar anti-trafficking raid
The Bangladesh Coast Guard has arrested nine smugglers involved in trafficking Bangladeshi goods to Myanmar in exchange for drugs.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq confirmed the development on Tuesday, 25 November 2025.
He said the Coast Guard launched the operation based on intelligence that a syndicate was preparing to smuggle Yaba, alcohol, and other narcotics from Myanmar in exchange for Bangladeshi products.
Acting on the tip-off, members of Coast Guard Station Cox's Bazar conducted a special drive at around 11am on Monday near the Bakkhali estuary.
During the operation, a fishing trawler was intercepted and searched. Authorities recovered 29 sacks of flour worth Tk13.7 lakh, 28,000 gas lights, 4,800 mosquito coils, 28 sacks of garlic, 624 packets of soap, 70 sacks of DAP fertiliser, and 96 bottles of soybean oil. Nine individuals were detained from the vessel.
Legal action is underway against the arrested smugglers, as well as the seized trawler and recovered goods.
Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq said the Coast Guard will continue such operations to curb smuggling in the coastal areas.
