20 rescued, 3 traffickers arrested en route to Malaysia from Teknaf
Police have rescued 20 individuals who were being trafficked to Malaysia via the Teknaf coast in Cox's Bazar.
Among the rescued were eight Bangladeshis and 12 Rohingyas.
Three traffickers, including a woman, were arrested in connection with the incident.
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The rescue operation took place last night (15 October) in the South Lomburi area of Teknaf sadar union, said Teknaf police station officer-in-charge (OC) Muhammad Gias Uddin.
The arrested traffickers have been identified as Luna Begum, 36, Ridwan, 19, and Abdullah, 21.
"Based on the information that several individuals, including Rohingyas, were gathered at a residence in South Lomburi, preparing to be trafficked to Malaysia, we launched a raid. As police surrounded the house, five to six people attempted to flee. We managed to detain three of them, while others escaped," OC Gias Uddin said.
"During a search of the house, we rescued 12 Rohingyas, including 4 women, and 8 Bangladeshis," he added.
According to the OC, during initial questioning, the traffickers and those rescued revealed that an organised group has been actively involved in human trafficking through sea routes.
"The arrested traffickers were preparing to smuggle these victims to Malaysia in exchange for large sums of money," he said.
Legal action is being taken against the traffickers, and steps are underway to return the rescued individuals to their families, OC Gias Uddin added.
