The Bangladesh Coast Guard has seized a large quantity of jet fuel, diesel, octane and edible oil during two separate operations in the Patenga area of Chattogram.
Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujan, Coast Guard media officer, confirmed the operations on Tuesday, saying that the drives were conducted based on intelligence information as part of ongoing efforts to prevent smuggling and illegal stockpiling of fuel in coastal regions.
In the first operation, conducted at the VIP Road area under Patenga Police Station, Coast Guard personnel recovered 7,000 litres of jet fuel, 6,000 litres of diesel and 1,500 litres of octane. A truck used for transporting the fuel was also seized from a secret warehouse following a late-night raid on Monday around 11 pm.
In a separate operation on the same night, Coast Guard members recovered around 5,000 litres of soybean oil from the Akmal Ali Switch Gate area under EPZ Police Station. The oil, valued at approximately Tk9 lakh, was reportedly unloaded illegally from a vessel.
Officials said those involved in the smuggling managed to flee before they could be apprehended.
The Coast Guard has intensified surveillance in the area to identify those responsible and is working to bring them under legal action. Authorities also indicated that joint operations with other law enforcement agencies may be carried out if necessary.
Legal procedures have been initiated regarding the seized fuel, edible oil and the vehicle involved.
The Coast Guard reiterated that such drives will continue in order to curb smuggling and protect lawful trade in coastal regions.
