The Bangladesh Coast Guard and Bangladesh Navy rescued 39 people, including women and children, who were being held by human traffickers in the remote hills of Baharchhara in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf upazila.

Two suspected traffickers were detained during the operation, Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Hoque confirmed Friday afternoon.

Acting on intelligence, authorities learned that traffickers had detained several people, including women and children, near Kachhapia Government Primary School in Baharchhara Union.

They were allegedly being prepared for trafficking by sea to Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.

In a joint operation launched early Friday, security forces rescued 18 women, 12 men, and 8 children, totaling 39 victims, from the traffickers’ hideout.

Quoting the victims, officials said the traffickers had been holding them in the hills for days, subjecting them to abuse while demanding ransom and preparing to smuggle them abroad.

Lt Commander Hoque said legal action is underway against the detainees and stressed that the Coast Guard will continue its operations to curb human trafficking and all other illegal activities along Bangladesh’s coastal regions.