Barishal: Bangladesh Coast Guard arrested 12 suspected smugglers and seized a lighter vessel carrying coal worth about Taka 1.10 crore in Barishal. A team of the Coast Guard launched a special drive at Charmonai Anandaghat last night based on secret information. During the operation, the team searched a lighter vessel and recovered around 1,100 tonnes of smuggled coal, said a press release signed by Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, preliminary interrogation revealed that the coal had been illegally offloaded from a foreign-flagged ship at Heron Point. The detained individuals, along with the seized vessel and the coal, were later handed over to Kotwali Police Station for legal action, the release added.