17 rescued in Teknaf during trafficking to Malaysia

Seventeen people have been rescued from a house in Cox's Bazar’s Teknaf where they had allegedly been gathered for trafficking to Malaysia by sea.

They were rescued during a raid on the house at South Lambarighat on Friday afternoon, said AM Faruk, assistant superintendent of police of Special Response Battalion (SRB)-15.

Seven of those rescued are from Lama Upazila in Bandarban.

The others are residents of Chakaria, Pekua, Ramu, Cox's Bazar Sadar and Teknaf Upazilas in Cox's Bazar.

Officer Faruk said the Teknaf camp of SRB-15 received information that several people had been gathered at a house.

A team conducted a raid on the house of Md Ibrahim around 5:40pm, he said.

According to SRB-15, suspected traffickers fled after learning of the raid. The team then searched the house in the presence of local residents and rescued the 17 people.

All of them were found unharmed, the battalion said.

During initial questioning, the rescued people said arrangements were being made to send them abroad by sea in exchange for money, according to SRB.

The battalion also said there were plans to force them into labour after taking them abroad.

Faruk said an investigation was under way to determine how the 17 people came to the house and whether any money had been taken from them.

He said surveillance had been increased to identify and arrest the suspected traffickers who fled the scene.       �"bdnews24