66 Rescued From Human Traffickers Hideout In Teknaf
No Arrests Were Carried Out During The Operation
A Joint Operation By The Bangladesh Coast Guard And Navy Rescued 66 People, Including Women And Children, From Human Traffickers In The Remote Hills Of Baharchhara, Teknaf.
Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-Ul-Haque Confirmed The Rescue On Friday Morning. Acting On Intelligence That A Large Group Had Been Detained In The Hills To Be Trafficked By Sea To Malaysia, The Two Forces Launched The Operation On Thursday Evening.
The Raid, Conducted Between 6pm And 10pm On 18 September, Discovered A Hilltop Hideout Where The Captives Were Being Held. All 66 Individuals Were Safely Rescued.
During Questioning, The Victims Said They Had Been Deceived By Organised Trafficking Syndicates With Promises Of High-Paying Jobs, Better Living Conditions, And Overseas Opportunities Requiring Little To No Upfront Cost, With Repayment Through Future Employment.
The Syndicates Had Gathered Bangladeshi And Rohingya Nationals From Teknaf And Surrounding Areas, Holding Them In Hidden Camps Before Attempting To Smuggle Them By Boat To Malaysia Via The Coastal Belt Near Marine Drive.
Some Victims Also Alleged That Traffickers Tried To Extort Ransom Through Torture While They Were Detained.
Officials Reported That The Traffickers Escaped Upon Detecting The Presence Of The Joint Forces. No Arrests Were Made During The Operation, Though Surveillance And Follow-Up Raids Are Underway To Capture Those Involved.
The Coast Guard And Navy Have Vowed To Continue Such Operations Against Human Trafficking Networks. “The Joint Forces Will Carry On Intelligence-Based Operations To Prevent Human Trafficking And Safeguard Vulnerable Communities From These Syndicates,” Said Lieutenant Commander Siam-Ul-Haque.
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