TDS Desk:

Two Rohingyas were arrested in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar with 10.5 kg of gold ornaments, gold bars, and a large amount of cash in an operation conducted by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

The arrestees have been identified as Md Hafizur Rahman, 28, and Md Anwar, 30, both residents of Sodapara, Maungdaw in Rakhine State, Myanmar.

Lt Col Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, commanding officer of BGB’s Teknaf 2 battalion, said the operation was carried out late Monday night in the Oliabad area of Teknaf Municipality.

“Acting on a tip-off about a large shipment of gold and drugs smuggled from Myanmar being stored in a local residence, our team conducted the raid. When BGB personnel surrounded the suspicious house, two individuals attempted to flee but were quickly arrested,” he said.

He said upon searching a bag in their possession, BGB recovered 10.5 kg of gold ornaments and bars, Tk478,240 in cash, 229,500 Myanmar kyat, and 10 mobile phones.

The estimated value of the recovered gold is around Tk11.52 crore, the official added.

“During preliminary interrogation, the suspects confessed to being active members of a transnational smuggling ring involved in drug and gold trafficking through the Teknaf border for a long time,” said Lt Col Mohiuddin.

The recovered gold and cash have been deposited in the treasury branch of the Cox’s Bazar district administration, and a case has been filed at Teknaf Police Station, he added.