Police rescue 7 human trafficking victims in Teknaf

Police on Sunday rescued seven people who were trafficked to Myanmar and held hostage to be smuggled to Malaysia.

"On Sunday night, members of the trafficking ring brought back these seven people from Myanmar and dropped them on the beach adjacent to Teknaf's fountain. We rescued them from there," Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Cox's Bazar Sadar Circle, Mizanur Rahman, said during a press conference on Monday afternoon.

The rescued individuals are Raihan Uddin, 28, of Harbang union, Chakaria upazila, Cox's Bazar, Safar Ali, 17, and Shaikat Aziz, 18,  Shaplapur union, Maheshkhali upazila, Cox's Bazar, Md. Raihan Kabir, 16,  and Md. Alamgir, 18, of Baidyaghona area, Cox's Bazar city,  Md. Mamun Mia, 21, of Thaingkhali area, Ukhia, and Md. Habib Ullah, 16, of Kazipur upazila, Sirajganj.

Earlier, police had arrested four members of the trafficking ring. The arrestees are —Md. Belal Uddin, 28, of Sadar union, Teknaf upazila, Cox's Bazar, Mahfuza, 22, and Abdullah, 55 of Sabrang union, Teknaf upazila, and Md. Ayash, 26, of Buchidong area, Myanmar.

ASP Mizanur Rahman said, "While investigating two general diaries recorded at Cox's Bazar Sadar police station from September 4 to September 17, it was confirmed that a human trafficking ring lured some teenagers and youths from Cox's Bazar Sadar, Chakaria, Maheshkhali, and Ukhia with promises of a better life and took them hostage for smuggling to Malaysia.

"They were first taken to the Lengur Bill area of Teknaf. Then they were taken to a hideout in Myanmar by sea and held hostage. After being held hostage, they were tortured and demanded ransom money from their relatives over the phone."

"The relatives also paid various amounts of money to the traffickers after receiving information about the torture. With the help of these money receivers, police identified the members of the trafficking ring by using information technology and arrested four people. Then, using the arrestees as a ruse, seven people were brought back to Teknaf from Myanmar on Sunday night," the ASP added.

"We are getting more information from the rescued and arrested individuals. Using the information we will identify and arrest other members of the ring and also rescue the other trafficked victims," the police officer said.

Separate cases have been filed in connection with these incidents in Ukhia, Teknaf, Maheskhali, and Chakaria police stations, in addition to Cox's Bazar Sadar, he added.