The Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained 22 people and seized three cargo boats carrying a large quantity of cement and fertiliser allegedly being smuggled to Myanmar during a drive in the Chattogram outer anchorage.
The operation was carried out by the Coast Guard's Patenga Outpost on Monday afternoon, Coast Guard Media Officer Lt Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan said.
Acting on intelligence reports, Coast Guard personnel learned that an organised smuggling network was preparing to transport chemical fertiliser packed in counterfeit Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) sacks, along with cement, to Myanmar through illegal channels.
Following the tip-off, the Coast Guard intensified surveillance and patrols in the outer anchorage before conducting a special operation around 5 pm.
During the drive, officials searched three suspected cargo boats and recovered 2,400 bags of Diamond Cement and 250 bags of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser packed in fake BADC-labelled sacks. The seized goods are estimated to be worth around Tk 14 lakh.
The Coast Guard also seized the three cargo boats allegedly used in the smuggling operation and detained 22 suspected smugglers.
Legal proceedings against the detainees are underway, while action is also being taken regarding the seized boats and goods, the Coast Guard said.
Lt Commander Sabbir said the Coast Guard would continue its regular operations to prevent smuggling and other illegal activities along the country's waterways.
Meanwhile, the repeated seizure of consignments of the same cement brand in recent anti-smuggling drives has raised questions among observers. Although several companies manufacture cement in Chattogram, the recurring appearance of the same brand in alleged smuggling attempts has prompted calls for scrutiny.
However, there has been no official confirmation that the manufacturer, its supply chain, dealer network or any other associated party is linked to the alleged smuggling, nor has any investigating agency announced an inquiry involving the company.