Teknaf, Nov 03 (V7N) — The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has declared a “Combat Alert” across the Teknaf border region to intensify its campaign against drug and human trafficking. As part of the initiative, Battalion-2 of BGB has been conducting a special operation titled Operation Cluster, which has already led to the recovery of a large haul of yaba tablets, locally made liquor, and the rescue of 13 victims of human trafficking.

According to BGB sources, acting on a tip-off, the force conducted a nightlong raid on Sunday in the Jahajpura area and adjacent border zones of Teknaf. During the operation, BGB personnel rescued 13 people — including men, women, and children — who had been held captive and were being trafficked toward the Myanmar border.

In a subsequent search of the area, BGB recovered 60,000 yaba tablets concealed inside a large sack and seized 34 liters of locally brewed liquor. Two suspected traffickers were arrested during the operation: Md. Abdullah (35), son of Abdus Salam of Baniyapara village, and Md. Zainal (20), son of Md. Hamid of Jahajpura village, both under Baharchhara Union in Teknaf upazila.

Lieutenant Colonel Ashiqur Rahman, Commanding Officer of the 2 BGB Battalion, stated that the force remains firm in its zero-tolerance stance against trafficking networks. “A ‘Combat Alert’ has been enforced throughout the Teknaf border area. BGB is fully prepared to uproot these criminal syndicates at any cost,” he said.

He added that the rescued victims were provided immediate assistance and transferred to a safe shelter after preliminary questioning. Legal action is underway against the two detainees, and a case has been filed at Teknaf Police Station.

Local residents welcomed the intensified operation, saying that the Teknaf border has long been a hotspot for yaba smuggling and human trafficking routes. In recent months, instability along the Myanmar border and networks linked to Rohingya camps have given rise to renewed trafficking attempts. The latest BGB operation is being viewed as a strong response aimed at dismantling these networks and restoring security across the coastal frontier.

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