Navy foils illegal cement shipment to Myanmar

National Desk :

The Bangladesh Navy continues to conduct regular patrols to safeguard the country’s maritime sovereignty, ensure maritime security and establish good order at sea. As part of these ongoing operations, the Navy detained 11 alleged smugglers along with an engine-driven boat carrying 740 sacks of cement from the Bay of Bengal adjacent to Saint Martin’s Island on Tuesday.

Acting on confidential intelligence regarding plans to smuggle cement illegally to Myanmar by evading customs duties via sea routes, the Bangladesh Navy intensified patrols in and around Saint Martin’s Island.

During a routine patrol, Bangladesh Navy Ship Prottasha spotted a suspicious boat approximately 31 miles from the Saint Martin’s lighthouse. When signalled to stop for inspection, the boat attempted to flee. After a chase, the Navy apprehended the vessel named FB Runa Akter.

Upon searching the boat, the Navy seized 740 sacks of Bangladeshi “Diamond” cement and detained 11 members of the smuggling group. According to information obtained from the detainees, the boat departed from the Fisheries Ghat in Chattogram at around 1600 hours on 16 February 2026 and proceeded to the Jorarbaya area of the Sandwip Channel.

From there, it loaded the cement with the intention of smuggling it to the Sittwe area of Myanmar for higher profit.
The seized goods and the detained individuals were later handed over to the Navy’s Forward Base at Saint Martin’s for legal proceedings.

It is noteworthy that alongside maintaining security in maritime and coastal areas, the Bangladesh Navy continues its operations and patrols to curb internal terrorism, drug trafficking and other criminal activities.