COX’S BAZAR: Police and Coast Guard personnel, in separate drives, detained 18 Malaysia-bound people from Sonadia coast under Maheshkhali Upazila in the district on Saturday night.

Sources said that a unit of coast guard conducted a drive in Sonadia point in mid night. Meanwhile, the law enforcers held 18 people with a trawler.

The people were preparing to go to Malaysia illegally through the sea route.

BDST: 0845 HRS, SEP 07, 2014