Tawhidul Islam, Cox's Bazar

A member of an organized arms smuggling syndicate has been arrested with seven locally made firearms in Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria, under the guise of transporting betel leaves. 

The arrest was made by a joint team of RAB and the Coast Guard.

The information was disclosed at a press briefing held at the RAB-15 Cox’s Bazar battalion office on Monday afternoon by the battalion’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Kamrul Hasan.

The arrestee, Md. Ayub Ali, is a resident of Sarol village in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram district.

During the operation, another individual — Muhammad Saiful Islam from Mizzirpahar area under Kalarmarchhara Union of Maheshkhali upazila — was taken into custody. However, RAB officials said no evidence of his involvement in the incident has been found so far.

Lieutenant Colonel Kamrul Hasan stated that on Sunday evening, acting on a tip-off, RAB and the Coast Guard learned about an arms consignment being smuggled by an organized syndicate under the cover of transporting betel leaves from Maheshkhali. In response, a joint team set up a temporary checkpoint at Badrkhali station, the entry point to Maheshkhali.

“At one stage of the search operation, a suspicious autorickshaw coming from Maheshkhali was stopped. As the movements of the two passengers in the vehicle raised suspicion, a thorough search was conducted. A sack filled with betel leaves kept at the back of the autorickshaw was opened, revealing seven locally made firearms,” he said.

The RAB officer added, “Both passengers were detained for questioning. Based on initial interrogation, Ayub Ali was found to be directly involved in the arms smuggling and was subsequently arrested. Although Saiful Islam was also taken into custody, no direct involvement has been established against him yet. He is currently undergoing intensive interrogation.”

Providing further details, Lieutenant Colonel Kamrul Hasan said that the arrested individual is an active member of an organized arms smuggling syndicate, which has long been operating under the guise of betel leaf supply from Maheshkhali to different parts of the country. The recovered firearms were reportedly being transported to Banshkhali for delivery to local criminals.

Preparations are underway to file a case under the relevant law at Chakaria Police Station in connection with the recovery of the arms, he aaded.