A total of 30 Rohingyas and two Bangladeshis have been held in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf as they were attempting to illegally embark on a sea journey to Malaysia, says the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

The arrests were made during raids conducted in the early hours on Friday (Feb 8) at Teknaf’s Shah Parir Dwip, Golarchar and Silkhali areas, said BGB Commander Lt Col Asaduzzaman Chowdhury.

“The detained 32 people were going to Malaysia after they were influenced by the human traffickers. Among them 30 have been identified as Rohingyas including 17 women and seven children,” he said.

The detainees are being grilled to learn the identities of the traffickers who facilitated the illegal sea-trip, added Chowdhury.