The Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained 11 smugglers along with a trawler carrying 750 bags of cement while attempting to smuggle the goods to Myanmar. The incident took place in the sea near Saint Martin’s Island in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.
In a press release issued on Sunday, Coast Guard Headquarters’ media officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq said the detainees are residents of different areas in Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong districts.
He said that at around 1:00am on Saturday, Coast Guard members noticed suspicious movement of a fishing trawler in the south-eastern sea area adjacent to Chhera Dwip near Saint Martin’s Island. When the Coast Guard ordered the trawler to stop, the smugglers attempted to flee at high speed. After a chase, the Coast Guard managed to seize the trawler.
Upon searching the vessel, 750 bags of cement were recovered. The estimated market value of the seized cement is approximately Tk 3.737 million.
A case has been filed at Teknaf Police Station under relevant laws against the detainees, along with the seized cement and the trawler used for smuggling, the Coast Guard official added.
