Police have rescued 12 Rohingya and eight Bangladeshi citizens from a trafficking attempt to Malaysia at the Teknaf coast in Cox’s Bazar.

According to the chief of Teknaf Police Station, three individuals were arrested in connection with the trafficking attempt in the Lombori area of Teknaf late Tuesday night.

The arrested suspects include Luna Begum, 36, Md. Ridwan, 19, and Md. Abdullah, 21.

The police reported that the rescued Rohingya individuals came from various camps in Teknaf and Ukhiya.

“Upon receiving information about a gathering of people, including Rohingya, in the South Lombori area, a police team conducted a raid on a suspect's house. When police surrounded the house, five to six individuals attempted to escape,” explained Gias Uddin, the officer-in-charge of Teknaf Police Station.

Gias noted that while three traffickers were apprehended, others managed to flee the scene.

During a subsequent search of the house, police rescued 12 Rohingya, including women, as well as eight Bangladeshi nationals.

“The arrested traffickers, along with other members of their syndicate, had gathered the victims intending to traffic them to Malaysia in exchange for a substantial sum of money,” Gias stated, referencing confessions from the suspects.

Police are in the process of preparing legal action against the traffickers, he added.

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