Teknaf, Nov 13 (V7N) – The Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained 22 suspected smugglers along with a large consignment of food and construction materials while they were allegedly attempting to smuggle the goods to Myanmar through the sea near St. Martin’s Island in Teknaf.
 
According to a press release issued by the Coast Guard’s East Zone media officer, Lieutenant Shakib Mehboob, the operation took place around 1 a.m. on Wednesday night. During a routine patrol, Coast Guard members intercepted two suspicious trawlers near Chera Dwip, adjacent to St. Martin’s Island. Upon searching the vessels, officials recovered 600 sacks of lentils and 650 sacks of cement intended for illegal transport across the maritime boundary.
 
Preliminary information suggests that the detainees are residents of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Noakhali, and Satkhira districts, though their identities have not been officially confirmed. The seized goods are estimated to be worth approximately Tk 33.57 lakh.
 
The Coast Guard stated that legal proceedings are underway against the detainees, and the confiscated goods and trawlers have been handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigation.
 
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