The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued 50 victims from a Malaysia-bound boat and arrested 9 human traffickers conducting an operation in the sea area adjacent to Baharchara under Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar on Friday night.

Based on the information received that a large number of people were being taken to Malaysia by sea through the sea area of ​​Teknaf for the purpose of human trafficking, the Coast Guard ship Mansur Ali, station Teknaf, outpost Shahpari and Baharchara conducted the joint operation from 6:00pm to midnight on Friday.

During the operation, when a signal was given to a suspicious boat to stop, the boat ignored the signal and tried to quickly escape into the deep sea.

Later, the boat was chased and seized from the sea area adjacent to Baharchhara. During the search of the seized boat, 50 victims were rescued while being trafficked to Malaysia and nine human traffickers were arrested.

During interrogation of the rescued people, it was revealed that an organised trafficking gang brought Bangladeshi and Rohingyas to Teknaf by luring them with high-paying jobs and a better life abroad.

Later, they were detained in secret hideouts and tortured and ransomed. The traffickers planned to smuggle the rescued people to different countries, including Malaysia, by sea.

Information has also been received that some victims were kidnapped from different parts of the country and ransom was collected.

Legal action against the rescued victims, the seized boats, and the human traffickers is in progress.