Joint Operation Rescues 25 Trafficking Victims, Including Women and Children, from Teknaf Hills
A joint operation conducted by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Navy in the deep hills of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, has rescued 25 individuals, including women and children, who were being held captive for human trafficking.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siyam-ul-Haque confirmed the information on Tuesday (November 4th) morning.
Details of the Operation
• Intelligence: Lieutenant Commander Siyam-ul-Haque stated that based on intelligence sources and information provided by previously arrested traffickers, it was known that a large number of individuals, including women and children, were being held in a secluded hilly area near Jumma Para in Baharchhara, Teknaf, for the purpose of being trafficked by sea to Malaysia.
• The Raid: Based on this information, a joint operation by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Navy was conducted in the area from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Monday.
• Outcome: The operational team successfully rescued 25 people, including women and children, from a hidden den used by the traffickers. The joint forces also managed to arrest two traffickers during the raid.
Trafficking Network and Intent
During interrogation, it was revealed that several organized trafficking rings were planning to lure Bangladeshi and Rohingya citizens from Teknaf and other areas of the country with promises of a better life abroad, high-paying jobs, and low-cost travel to Malaysia, and then traffic them via the sea route.
The traffickers were planning to smuggle them to Malaysia by boat from the coast adjacent to the Marine Drive at a convenient time. The victims also disclosed that the traffickers were attempting to extort ransom from them while holding them captive and subjecting them to abuse.
Commander Siyam confirmed that the process of taking further legal action regarding the rescued individuals and the arrested kidnappers is currently underway.
