Bangladesh Coast Guard has seized two fishing boats carrying a large consignment of potatoes allegedly intended for smuggling into Myanmar.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Suzan confirmed the matter on Thursday afternoon.
He said, acting on a tip off, members of Coast Guard Station Hatiya conducted the operation in the early hours of Thursday in the Meghna River near Char Ataur under Hatiya Police Station in Noakhali.
During the operation, the personnel inspected two suspicious fishing boats and recovered around 760 sacks of potatoes, valued at approximately Tk 570,000.
Authorities said the consignment was being transported illegally with the intent to evade customs duties and taxes before being smuggled into Myanmar.
Sensing the presence of Coast Guard personnel, those involved fled the scene and no was arrested in the connection.
The seized boats and goods have been taken into custody, and legal procedures are currently underway.
Officials from the Bangladesh Coast Guard said operations of this kind will continue in order to prevent smuggling and other illegal activities in coastal and riverine areas.
