10,000kg of Urea Fertiliser Seized in Teknaf While Being Smuggled to Myanmar

Bangladesh Coast Guard has seized a large amount of urea fertilizer meant for smuggling to Myanmar. The drive took place in the deep sea southeast of Saint Martin’s Island in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. Coast Guard also detained 9 people and seized a boat used in the smuggling.

Coast Guard detained them around 2 am on Sunday (1 November) in the deep sea area southeast of Saint Martin’s Island. Lieutenant Commander Mr. Sabbir Alam Sujan, media officer of the Coast Guard, confirmed this. He said a Coast Guard ship was carrying out a special anti-smuggling drive in the area. The crew signaled a suspicious boat to stop, but it ignored the signal and tried to flee.

The Coast Guard team chased the boat and caught it in the deep sea. Mr. Sujan said a search of the boat found 10,000 kg of urea fertilizer worth about 2 lakh 50 thousand taka. The fertilizer was being carried illegally to Myanmar. Coast Guard detained 9 people on suspicion of involvement in the smuggling.

Coast Guard sources said legal action is now under process against the detained people. It will also cover the seized fertilizer and the boat. Mr. Sujan added that Coast Guard drives will continue in the future to stop smuggling along the country’s borders and sea areas.