The Bangladesh Coast Guard conducted a special midnight operation near Dhalghata in Maheshkhali, Cox’s Bazar, seizing 450 bags of cement allegedly being smuggled to Myanmar. The operation, carried out by the Matarbari station team based on confidential intelligence, led to the arrest of eight suspected traffickers and the confiscation of a fishing boat used in the illegal trade.

Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haque, the Coast Guard’s media officer, confirmed the seizure on Saturday morning, stating that the cement—worth approximately 225,000 Bangladeshi taka—was being transported to evade customs duties. Legal proceedings against the detainees are underway, and the seized materials have been taken into custody for further investigation.

Authorities emphasized that the Coast Guard will continue intensified operations to curb cross-border smuggling in the Bay of Bengal region, a persistent challenge for coastal law enforcement agencies.