Arakan News Agency
The Bangladesh Navy has seized two engine-powered boats and arrested 23 people on charges of attempting to smuggle cement by sea to Arakan, according to Bangladeshi media reports.
The operation was carried out during a naval patrol in the Bay of Bengal, near the outer anchorage area of Kutubdia Island, following secret intelligence indicating the presence of a smuggling network transporting cement to Arakan while evading customs duties, reported The Territorial News (TTN).
Based on the intelligence, the Bangladesh Navy intensified patrols around St. Martin’s Island and adjacent waters to intercept suspected smuggling activities.
During the operation, the naval vessel BNS Shaheed Mohibullah detected two suspicious wooden boats approximately 46 nautical miles from the Kutubdia Lighthouse. When naval personnel signaled the boats to stop for inspection, the vessels attempted to flee. The navy pursued and successfully intercepted them.
The seized boats were identified as “FB Azizul Haque” and “FB Runa Akhter.” A search of the vessels led to the recovery of 1,750 bags of Bangladeshi Diamond Cement and 32 mobile phones.
All 23 individuals on board were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the smuggling operation. Authorities later handed over the seized cement and the detainees to Patenga Model Police Station for further legal action under existing Bangladeshi laws.
The Bangladesh Navy said the operation was part of its ongoing efforts to combat illegal cross-border smuggling and strengthen maritime security in the country’s territorial waters.
Bangladesh’s coastline along the Bay of Bengal has witnessed increased smuggling activity in recent years, particularly toward Arakan, taking advantage of vast maritime routes and challenges in constant surveillance. Construction materials, especially cement, are among the high-demand goods in conflict-affected and unstable regions, prompting smuggling networks to transport them illegally to avoid customs duties.
The navy continues to intensify maritime patrols as part of broader efforts to curb organized crime and protect national maritime borders.
