Rab on Wednesday unearthed an illegal arms factory in a drive through a dense forested hill in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram district on Tuesday. The elite force also detained one person identified as Zakir Hossain alias Zakerullah, 50 and seized 10 firearms including eight one-shutter guns during the drive, said commanding officer of Rab-7 Lieutenant Colonel MA Yusuf. Tipped off, Rab conducted a drive at Chambal Forest and busted the arms factory at a house of one Abdur Rahman at Natunpara in the upazila, said Col Yusuf told a press briefing held at Chandgaon Rab office. Rab also seized two pistols and huge firearms making materials from the spot. Zakir is believed to be the arms maker, said Rab. Rab also said three syndicates have been involved in illegal making, sale and purchase of arms in the remote area  Also read: Man held with 2 firearms, ammunition in Satkhira During primary interrogation, Zakir said pirates, drug peddlers and highway robbers are their main customers.  Each of the arms  sells between Tk 5000 and 10,000, he said.      

An illegal arms factory being run out of a dense forest area in Cox's Bazar was unearthed by Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Thursday. The tip-off about the factory in Pekua upazila came from an illegal arms supplier who was detained by members of the elite force earlier in the day. The detainee has been identified as Delwar Hossain Delu, son of Ali Chan from the Gudikata area in the south of Toitong union in the upazila. Also read: Arms seized at Ctg port: One held In fact, a Rab-15 team conducted a drive in the Cheptamura forest area in Toitong union and first arrested Delu, Lt Colonel Khairul Islam, its commander, told reporters. During questioning, he disclosed the location of the factory and it was raided. Five firearms and some gun-making were seized, the commander said. An accomplice of Delu, however, managed to flee during the raid, he added. Delu was wanted in at least seven cases of murder, robbery and land grabbing. Also read: Arms, ammo recovered from Habiganj Satchhari forest