Chattogram, Oct 6 (V7N) – The Coast Guard has seized a boat carrying 40 tonnes of cement in the Patenga area of Chattogram city, with the cargo reportedly being smuggled to Myanmar.
The cement was valued at around Tk 4 lakh, Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan said this afternoon.
Acting on a tip-off, the Coast Guard Outpost in Patenga launched a special operation at around 1:00 am on Monday. The operation was conducted near Ghat No. 12 of the Karnaphuli Channel under Patenga police station. Coast Guard personnel searched a suspicious cargo boat and seized 800 sacks of cement, weighing 40 tonnes, along with the boat.
No arrests were made as the smugglers fled after noticing the presence of Coast Guard personnel. Legal proceedings regarding the seized cement and boat are underway. Lieutenant Commander Sujan added that the Coast Guard will continue such operations to curb smuggling and trafficking.
Smuggling of goods across the Bangladesh-Myanmar border has been a persistent challenge, particularly in the Chattogram region. The Coast Guard has been conducting regular operations to intercept illegal shipments, including cement, fuel, and other commodities. The government has emphasized its commitment to curbing smuggling and trafficking, with law enforcement agencies working to strengthen surveillance and enforcement along the border and coastal areas.
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