Rapid Action Battalion has arrested two members of a smuggling syndicate with 18 deer hides from Bagerhat.

The arrest was made during a raid at Kashem Plaza Market in Barakpur Bazar of Bagerhat Sadar on Thursday night.

Read: 4 ‘deer poachers’ held in Sundarbans

The arrestees are Abdul Hakim, 50, son of Rafiz Uddin of Baharbunia village in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat and Kamrul Islam, 35, son of Ali Mia Hawladar of Sonatala village in Sharankhola upazila.

According to RAB, they are members of a syndicate of deer meat and hide smugglers.

Two smartphones, Tk 2,000 cash and 18 deer hides were seized at from the smugglers, said a RAB-6 media release on Friday

Khulna RAB-6 Assistant Director (Media) ASP Bazlur Rashid said that the RAB on a tipoff trading deer hides, raided the market. Sensing the presence of the RAB, the members of the syndicate tried to flee. However, RAB team managed to arrest the two smugglers and found 18 deer hides in two large plastic bags, he said.

The ASP further said that the smugglers over primary interrogation admitted that they used to collect deer hides and meat from the Sundarbans and sell it in different parts of the country.

The two smugglers, including deer hides, have been handed over to Bagerhat Sadar Model Police Station for legal action, he added.

Read: Father-son arrested with deer meat in Bagerhat

Earlier on January 23 this year, Bagerhat district police raided Sharankhola and arrested two poachers with 19 deer hides.

Deer hunting has increased in the Sundarbans since the time of the Covid pandemic. Poachers use traps and poison baits to hunt deer. Slaughtering those inside the forest they sell the meat at the locality and the hides are smuggled.