Bagerhat, July 10 (UNB) – Coast Guard arrested four alleged smugglers along with a covered-van, recovering huge Indian contraband items from it near Rupsha Bridge in Rupsha upazila of Khulna on Tuesday morning.

The arrestees are: Nazrul Islam, 26, driver of the covered-van and son of Saidul Islam, Md Reajuddin, 22, helper of the covered-van of Baro Manika village of Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola, Helal Mia, 26, son of Badal Mia of Char Shupoti village of Raipur upazila of Narsingdi and Raju Ahmed, 24, son of Shamsul Alam of Betkati village of Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj district.

Lieutenant Commander KM Mamunur Rashid, Coast-Guard Mongla (West Zone) Staff Officer (operation), said acting on secret information a Coast-Guard team intercepted a covered-van and arrested the four near Rupsha Bridge at about 11 am.

The team seized the covered-van and recovered huge Indian contraband, including sari, three-piece, motor parts and medicine worth about Tk two crore, from the vehicle.

Coast Guard handed over the arrestees to police after quizzed them. The seized goods were smuggled in Bangladesh through Hakimpur border.

Coast Guard, police and Rab conducted numerous drives in different areas of Khulna and recovered Indian goods worth Tk 50 cores in the last few months.