DHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Navy in an operation detained 273 people, including 10 suspected members of a trafficking syndicate during their attempt to illegally travel to Malaysia by Bay of Bengal on Saturday night.

Acting on a tip-off, naval ship BNS Swadhinata noticed suspicious movement of a wooden boat located about 30 miles southwest of St. Martin’s Island, said an ISPR release today. 

When the Navy ship signaled the boat to stop, it attempted to flee by increasing speed.  

The Navy ship immediately chased and intercepted the boat. At that time, 273 people, including 10 suspected traffickers were detained and the boat was seized.

According to information provided by the detainees, they had embarked on the journey with the help of human traffickers with the aim of illegally travelling to Malaysia. 

The seized boat and detainees were handed over to Teknaf Police Station for further legal action.

The release said the journey had begun without minimum life-saving equipment, adequate food, water, or safety arrangements, which could have caused a humanitarian disaster in the deep sea.