By: Camp Correspondent
Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar – March 13, 2025
In a late-night operation on Wednesday (March 12), police rescued 18 Rohingya individuals, including women and children, from human traffickers in the remote hills of Teknaf’s Baharchhara Kachhapia area.
Law enforcement officials also apprehended a suspected trafficker during the raid.
Md. Gias Uddin, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Teknaf Model Police Station, confirmed that the rescue took place around 7:30 PM based on intelligence reports.
Among those rescued, 11 were women, 5 were children, and 2 were men.
Trafficking Operation Uncovered
According to OC Gias Uddin, police received confidential information that a group of Rohingya refugees was being held hostage in a makeshift hut in the hills.
The traffickers had allegedly planned to smuggle them to Malaysia. Acting swiftly, a police team launched a raid, successfully rescuing the victims and arresting one suspected trafficker.
Legal Action Against the Perpetrators
“The rescued individuals are being handed over to their families, and legal action will be taken against the arrested trafficker,” said OC Gias Uddin.
Authorities are continuing investigations to dismantle the human trafficking network operating in the region.
Ongoing Concerns About Rohingya Trafficking
Human trafficking remains a significant threat in the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox’s Bazar, where vulnerable individuals are often targeted by smuggling networks promising better opportunities abroad.
Law enforcement agencies have increased surveillance efforts to prevent such illegal activities.
Police have urged the public to report any suspicious activities related to human trafficking and assured that strict action will be taken against those involved.
As investigations continue, authorities are working to track down other members of the trafficking network to prevent further exploitation of Rohingya refugees.