Another Rohingya held for supplying arms to Arsa in Cox’s Bazar

Legal action is underway against the arms trader, says RAB official

Abdul Aziz, Cox's Bazar/ Dhaka Trubune

Published: April 8, 2023 5:23 PM | Last updated: April 8, 2023 5:23 PM

The Rapid Action Battalion on Saturday detained another arms trader while supplying the firearms to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa).

he detainee is Arif Hossain alias Naigya, 27, a resident of Bloc B of Rohingya camp-1.

Lieutenant Colonel Saiful Islam Sumon, commanding officer of the RAB-15, said Arif Hossain was detained during a raid conducted in Baharchara area of Cox's Bazar Sadar on Friday afternoon.

Commanding officer Saiful Islam said: "Upon receiving information that arms are going to be supplied to Arsa, a search post was set up in Baharchhara. One person was detained during the operation when he tried to flee.

“RAB also recovered three one-barrel pistols, one three-barrel pistol, five rounds of live ammunition, one mobile phone and some cash from his possession,” he said. 

The commanding officer of RAB-15 further said: "We are identifying and arresting the arms suppliers to the Arsa. Intelligence efforts have been increased to identify and bring those involved in criminal activities in the camp under the purview of the law."

The RAB official informed that legal action is underway against the detained individual.

Earlier on Thursday, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained three suspected arms traders in the Boro Bheula area of Cox's Bazar's Chakaria upazila.

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