500 pirates, 20 illegal arms factories in Cox's Bazar-Moheshkhali

But police declined to disclose their names to the journalists for the sake of investigation.

Jamir has also provided valuable information about criminal activities in Moheskhali and Cox's Bazar.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Jamir is now in jail after interrogation during a three-day remand which ended recently.

Jamir, was arrested from his house at Sairerdail village in offshore island Moheskhali during a pre-dawn police raid on September 10.

Anjum Ferdous, OC of Moheskhali thana conducted the raid.

Police recovered the M-16 rifle and a magazine by digging the floor of his house.

Jamir had looted the M-16 from another notorious criminal-- Rezaul Karim --who was killed at a shrimp enclosure in Matorbari on August 7, sources said.

Moheskhali thana police had been looking for Jamir since Rezaul's murder.

Jamir's godfather Ebadulla, who led a gang of pirates, was arrested earlier.

Moheskhali has long been a safe haven for more than 500 pirates and robbers belonging to as many as 15 gangs, police said. There are some 20 illegal arms factories in the area, they said.

Fifteen notorious criminals were arrested and 288 firearms recovered from the offshore upazila during the recent countrywide anti-crime drive.