Seventeen men were rescued in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, while allegedly being prepared for illegal trafficking to Malaysia by sea.

The men were rescued on Friday (September 25) during a raid on a house in the South Lombori area of Teknaf Sadar Union, according to Special Response Battalion-15 (SRB-15).

SRB-15 said members of its CPC-1 Teknaf Camp learned through confidential information and technological assistance that a human trafficking gang had confined several people in a house before sending them to Malaysia by sea. Acting on the information, the team conducted a raid at the house of Md. Ibrahim in South Lombori at around 5:40 p.m.

Sensing the presence of law enforcement personnel, members of the trafficking gang fled the scene. A subsequent search of the house led to the rescue of 17 men. They are residents of Lama in Bandarban and Chakaria, Pekua, Ramu, Cox’s Bazar Sadar and Teknaf upazilas in Cox’s Bazar.

SRB-15 said the men had been brought together at the house on the promise of being sent abroad. The gang was allegedly planning to send them illegally to Malaysia by sea for financial gain, according to preliminary information. Authorities are also investigating whether there was any plan to force the men into labour.

No traffickers could be arrested as they fled during the raid. However, efforts to identify and arrest those involved are continuing.

The rescued men were handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station for further legal proceedings.

The information was confirmed around 11:30 p.m. Friday by A. M. Faruk, Assistant Superintendent of Police and Director (Law and Media) of Cox’s Bazar Special Response Battalion-15.