Coast Guard rescues 20, arrests five traffickers in Cox's Bazar

Five human traffickers were arrested and 20 people, including women and children, were rescued during a Coast Guard operation at Kolatoli beach in Cox's Bazar early today as they were being prepared for transport to Malaysia by sea.
 

Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, media officer of the Bangladesh Coast Guard, said in a press release this afternoon that intelligence reports indicated a large number of people, including women and children, were staying in the Teknaf area with plans to be trafficked to Malaysia.
 

"Based on the information, a special operation was carried out around 3:00am today by Coast Guard outposts in Baharchhara, Inani, Himchhari, Cox's Bazar and Maheshkhali, along with Coast Guard vessel Shyamol Bangla," he said.
 

The Coast Guard team signalled a suspicious boat to stop, but it attempted to flee. The team chased and intercepted the boat near Kolatoli beach.
 

Upon searching the boat, the Coast Guard rescued 20 victims, including women and children, and arrested five human traffickers who were allegedly attempting to transport them to Malaysia.
 

During preliminary questioning, the rescued individuals said several organised trafficking groups had been planning to smuggle Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals to Malaysia by sea. The traffickers reportedly lured them with promises of a better life abroad, high-paying jobs and low-cost travel.
 

Legal proceedings against the arrested traffickers are underway, and further action regarding the rescued victims is being processed.