Youth Held With Foreign Pistols in Benapole

A young man has been detained after members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) recovered a cache of illegal foreign firearms and ammunition during a pre-dawn operation in the Benapole Port Police Station area of Jashore. The operation, carried out in the Raghunathpur locality, led to the seizure of two foreign-made pistols, six rounds of ammunition and four magazines, underscoring continuing concerns over the circulation of illicit weapons in Bangladesh’s border regions.

According to RAB officials, the special drive was conducted at around 5:00 am on Sunday (11 January) by a patrol team dispatched from the RAB headquarters in Dhaka. The team was led by Major Nazmul Hossain and acted on specific intelligence suggesting that illegal arms were being stored at a residence in Raghunathpur West Para, an area close to the busy Benapole land port.

During the search, law enforcers raided the house of Mohammad Aslam Hossain, where the weapons and ammunition were discovered concealed inside the premises. Following the recovery, RAB detained Sakib Hasan, aged 28, a resident of the house and the son of the property owner. Officials said that the manner of storage and the quantity of recovered items raised strong suspicions of organised arms trading rather than personal possession.

RAB sources revealed that preliminary interrogation of the detainee indicated his involvement in the illegal arms trade. Investigators believe the weapons may have been smuggled into the country through cross-border routes, exploiting the proximity of Benapole to international transit points. Such weapons, authorities warn, often end up being used in serious criminal activities, posing a threat to public safety and regional stability.

Officer-in-Charge of Benapole Port Police Station, Mohammad Ashraf Hossain, confirmed that RAB was in the process of formally handing over both the suspect and the seized items to the local police. He stated that a case would be filed under the Arms Act and that further legal proceedings would follow in accordance with the law. The suspect will remain in police custody as the investigation continues, with efforts under way to identify any wider network connected to the seized arms.

In the wake of the recovery, security measures in the surrounding areas have been tightened. Law enforcement agencies have increased patrols and surveillance to deter arms smuggling and reassure local residents. Officials reiterated their commitment to a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal weapons, particularly in border districts that are vulnerable to cross-border crime.

Summary of the Operation

Authorities have indicated that further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses and additional facts come to light.