3 held for supplying arms to Arsa in Cox’s Bazar

News Desk

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Thursday detained three suspected arms traders in the Boro Bheula area of Cox’s Bazar’s Chakaria upazila on suspicion of supplying arms to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa).

The detainees are Moktar Ahmed, 52, Abdur Rahim, 40 and Md Enamul Haque, 38.

Lieutenant Colonel Saiful Islam Sumon, commanding officer of Rab-15, confirmed the matter.

On secret information that several arms traders were going to Ukhiya Rohingya camp on a CNG-run autorickshaw to supply arms, a team of RAB set up a checkpost in the Boro Bheula Lal Bridge area on Thursday morning and conducted raids.

When the autorickshaw was crossing the area, the RAB team intercepted it.

The team arrested the three suspected arms traders while they were trying to flee the scene, according to Lt Col Sumon.

Three one-barrel pistols, one two-barrel pistol and four firearms and some cash were recovered from their possession.

During the primary interrogation, the detainees confessed that they had been running illegal arms business secretly in Maheshkhali and Chakaria upazilas area for a long time in cooperation with each other, according to RAB.

Besides, they were also supplying arms and weapons to Arsa and other criminal groups in Rohingya camps, the RAB official said.