Coast Guard detains 13 in anti-smuggling drives in Cox’s Bazar

Members of the Bangladesh Coast Guard detained 10 alleged drug traffickers with foreign liquor and three suspected smugglers with goods allegedly meant for smuggling in separate drives in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf and Saint Martin's Island.

The information was disclosed in a media statement issued today (6 May) by Coast Guard Headquarters Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon. 

According to the statement, during a drive early yesterday (5 May) near the north-western waters adjacent to Chhera Dwip, Coast Guard personnel signalled a suspicious trawler to stop. Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the trawler attempted to flee at high speed. Coast Guard members later chased and seized the vessel.

After searching the trawler, officials recovered eight bottles of foreign liquor worth around Tk2.6 lakh. Ten suspected drug traffickers on board were arrested.

The detainees were identified as Md Ilias 35, Md Riaz 30, Md Toiyob 24, Md Imran 21, Md Forkan 55, Md Nasir 35, Md Karim 32, Md Ashraful Alam 24, Md Hasnain 22, and Md Usman 28. 

In another operation early today (6 May) in the sea near Golar Char adjacent to Shah Porir Dwip under Sabrang union of Teknaf, Coast Guard personnel detained three alleged smugglers while they were attempting to transport goods to Myanmar.

Officials said they spotted a suspicious trawler and ordered it to stop. The vessel then tried to escape, but was later intercepted and seized.

A search of the trawler led to the recovery of 400 litres of soybean oil, 400kg of onions and 450kg of flour, with an estimated value of Tk1.54 lakh.

The detainees were identified as Md Hamidullah 30, and Md Faruk 19. The name of the third detainee was not immediately disclosed.

Two separate cases have been filed with Teknaf Police Station under relevant laws, said Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon.