975 sacks of fertiliser seized while being smuggled to Myanmar

The Bangladesh Coast Guard arrested three people and seized 975 sacks of urea fertiliser while they were allegedly being smuggled to Myanmar by sea from Mirsarai in Chattogram on Thursday night.

Four trucks and a fishing trawler allegedly used to transport the fertiliser were also seized during the operation.

Acting on a tip-off, a Coast Guard team conducted a raid around 11:30pm at Gate-16 of Ichakhali Canal in the coastal area of the National Special Economic Zone and arrested three people and seized the four trucks loaded with fertiliser and the trawler.

However, the alleged ringleader of the smuggling syndicate and several others managed to flee on another trawler with the remaining 125 sacks after sensing the presence of the Coast Guard.

According to the Coast Guard, the syndicate had earlier taken a total of 1,100 sacks of urea fertiliser from Majhirghat on the pretext of transporting them to Hatiya. Instead, they allegedly attempted to smuggle the fertiliser to Myanmar by sea.

Later, a mobile court led by Mirsarai Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tanvirul Kader Chowdhury fined the three detainees and sold the seized fertiliser through a spot auction. Tanvirul Kader said the seized trawler had been kept in Coast Guard custody and further legal proceedings were underway.