Forest officials detained nine people along with a cargo vessel carrying 230 tonnes of coal from the Bhola River in the eastern Sundarbans on Monday night over illegal transportation and smuggling.

The cargo vessel, named Hasan Bhandari, was carrying the coal from Joymoni in Mongla to Patharghata through the Sundarbans, according to forest officials.

During a patrol, officials intercepted the vessel on charges of illegal entry into the forest area.

The crew members said they were heading towards the Amua area of Patharghata.

The nine detainees were held after failing to produce valid documents for the purchase of the coal.

The detainees were Md Tarikul Islam, 34, Dulal Hawlader, 34, Md Sumon Talukder, 21, Md Nur Nabi Hossain, 42, Md Enayet Karim, 40, Md Obaidul, 22, Md Mamun, 22, Md Layek Mia, 50, and Md Kabir Hossain, 45.

They hail from Mongla and Morelgonj in Bagerhat, Bhandaria in Pirojpur and Brahmanbaria.

The seized coal is estimated to be worth around 50 lakh taka.

Forest officials suspect that the coal was illegally unloaded from a mother vessel anchored in Joymoni area of Mongla, although they could not confirm the source.

Two separate cases have been filed with Sarankhola Police Station under charges of illegal entry and smuggling, said Md Shariful Islam, assistant conservator of forests at Sarankhola Range of Sundarbans East Division.

He said forest official Shyama Prasad Roy filed the two cases as the complainant and that the seized coal and the detainees have been handed over to Sarankhola Police Station.