10 detained for smuggling fertilizer and commodities to Myanmar

The Coast Guard has detained 10 smugglers, including one Rohingya national along with a boat carrying urea fertilizer and essential commodities while they were attempting to smuggle the goods to Myanmar from the deep sea near Chera Dwip, off Saint Martin's Island in Cox's Bazar.

Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan disclosed this information on Saturday (September 19) afternoon.

He stated that acting on a tip-off, the Coast Guard Station at Saint Martin's conducted a special anti-smuggling operation at 1 AM on Saturday, the deep waters southeast of Chera Dwip.

During the operation, a suspicious boat ignored a signal to stop and attempted to flee. The operational team subsequently chased down and intercepted the vessel in the deep sea.

A search of the boat led to the seizure of goods worth approximately Tk. 13.70 lakh, including 240 sacks (12,000 kg) of urea fertilizer, 190 sacks (3,800 kg) of garlic, and 90 sacks (4,500 kg) of onions. Ten smugglers on board were detained during the operation.

The Coast Guard stated that the process of taking further legal action regarding the seized goods and the detained individuals is currently underway.

-TN/NS/AAH