Crackdown against stockpiling of goods in floating warehouses at sea

The Coast Guard, Department of Shipping and Chattogram Port Authority (CPA) have launched a joint crackdown for illegally storing imported goods in floating warehouses on ships in rivers and seas without marketing them after unloading.

The operation is being conducted in the Karnaphuli River and the outer anchorage areas of the port from 11:30 am on Wednesday (March 19).

CPA Secretary Omar Faruk confirmed the information.

According to the port sources, there are allegations that some unscrupulous traders are using lighter ships as ‘floating warehouses’ to stockpile imported goods without marketing them after unloading in order to create an artificial crisis in the market.

However, it is prohibited to store goods on ships for more than 72 hours after unloading them. Therefore, the third round of operations against illegal storage of goods on ships is being conducted from Wednesday morning.

Details regarding the crackdown will be notified later, said the CPA.