Myanmar-bound fertiliser smuggling bid foiled in Cox's Bazar, 11 held
Detainees are from various Rohingya camps in Ctg, Cox’s Bazar
The Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained 11 individuals and seized 742 sacks of urea fertiliser while they were attempting to smuggle the consignment by sea to Myanmar's Rakhine State.
A trawler used in the smuggling operation was also seized, said Lt Commander HMM Harun-ur-Rashid, media officer at the Coast Guard, today (8 May).
The detainees are residents of various Rohingya camps in Chattogram district and Ukhiya upazila of Cox's Bazar.
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"Around midnight on Wednesday, members of the Coast Guard ship Mansur Ali spotted a fishing trawler in the deep sea near St Martin's Island in Teknaf. As a 58-day fishing ban is currently in effect, the trawler's presence raised suspicion," Harun-ur-Rashid said.
"When ordered to stop, the vessel attempted to flee at high speed. The Coast Guard pursued and eventually intercepted it. A search of the trawler led to the recovery of 742 sacks of urea fertiliser being smuggled without customs clearance. Eleven individuals aboard were detained," he added.
The seized fertiliser has been handed over to the Teknaf Customs warehouse, while the trawler was sent to Teknaf Police Station.
Legal action is being initiated against the detainees under relevant laws, the Coast Guard official added.
