The Coast Guard has seized around 22 tonnes of scrap materials allegedly smuggled from Myanmar and detained seven people during a raid near Patenga Sea Beach in Chattogram.

The seized goods included about 2,000 kg of scrap iron and 20,000 kg of used battery scrap, which were recovered from a cargo boat on Sunday morning.

Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Coast Guard’s Patenga Outpost intercepted and searched the boat in the area, recovering the suspected smuggled goods. According to BSS, the seized materials were worth around Tk 33 lakh.

Coast Guard Media Officer Lt Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan said the detainees told officials during preliminary interrogation that the scrap had been brought into Bangladesh from Myanmar on fishing boats. The materials were later transferred to the cargo boat for transportation towards the Karnaphuli Channel, he said.

The Coast Guard subsequently seized the scrap and the cargo boat and detained the seven people for questioning.

Legal proceedings have been initiated against the detainees in connection with the alleged smuggling, officials said.

Lt Commander Sujan said the Coast Guard would continue anti-smuggling operations in the coastal and riverine areas to prevent the illegal movement of goods.

BOB Post