The Coast Guard arrested nine people and seized 10 tonnes of urea fertiliser from a boat allegedly carrying the consignment to Myanmar in the deep sea southeast of Saint Martin’s Island early Sunday.
The Coast Guard estimates the seized fertiliser is worth Tk 2.5 lakh.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Suzan, Coast Guard media officer, said a special anti-smuggling operation was conducted around 2:00am on November 1 by a Coast Guard vessel deployed under an operation to protect fertiliser supplies.
Acting on a tip-off, the team signalled a suspicious boat to stop. The boat ignored the signal and tried to flee, but the Coast Guard team chased it down and intercepted it in the deep sea.
A search of the boat led to the recovery of 10,000 kilograms of urea fertiliser allegedly being transported illegally to Myanmar. Nine people on board were arrested, and the boat used in the alleged smuggling was also seized.
Legal proceedings against the arrested men and the seized fertiliser and boat were under way, the Coast Guard said.
The media officer said the Coast Guard would continue operations to prevent smuggling.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
