Maungdaw, Arakan State: A human trafficker was arrested and released after two hours on October 14 at about 8 p.m.
Nasaka, Burma border security force in area number 6, arrested a wanted human trafficker, Abdu Sukur (42), son of Sultan Ahmed hailing from Ponzapinpru village track in Maungdaw on October 14 evening. He was released after two hours after he bribed the Nasaka, said a village peace and Development council (VPDC) member on condition of anonymity.
Sukur has been trafficking people from Arakan State, Burma to other countries through Bangladesh. His pitch to people wanting to leave the country is he would provide jobs with good salaries in Malaysia and China. He has been taking advance money to the tune of Kyat 20,000 to 50,000. He would collect the balance after they reached the destination.
People unable to bear the Burmese military junta's persecution in Arakan State, given the restriction in movement, marriage, business, religious persecution and education, are trying to go abroad where they can live peacefully and provide sustenance to their family. They are departing after selling their property and belongings, he added.
For each person heading for Malaysia the trafficker, also known as tout, demands around 3000 Ringgit. Some demand 120,000 Taka for Malaysia if the clients want to fly. Sukur is a member of a syndicate into human trafficking, according to a travel agency in Bangladesh.
The authorities in Maungdaw issued a warrant of arrest for Sukur but officers of sector number 6 of Nasaka released him after extorting a hefty bribe on October 14, said an aide from Nasaka.
He was arrested from the residence of Moulana Syed Ahmed (35) son of Abul Husson from Ponzapinpru, where Sukkur had been hiding. Moulana Syed is an informer of the Nasaka sector 6 and he passed on the information that the trafficker was hiding in his house. Ironically Sukur and Syed were best friends, said a local from Ponzapinpru.
The Nasaka is using a section of Rohingyas as informers by providing them some facilities. In sector 6 from Ponzapinpru, Ayas (37) son of Dil Mohamed, Alam (30) son of Islam and Moulana Syed are providing information to the Nakasa officers about their village, he added.
Some times the informers end up giving wrong information to the authorities and wealthy people and social workers are harassed unnecessarily. Recently, there has been harassment for possessing mobile phones from Bangladesh by taking money from Rohingyas, said a school teacher from Maungdaw.
