Forest Department officials detained 60 suspected deer poachers while entering the Sundarbans with hunting equipment in three trawlers in Joymoni area of Chandpai Range early Tuesday.

Tipped off that a group of deer poachers were entering the Sundarbans ahead of ‘Rash Mela’, forest guards conducted a drive in the area and detained the 60 poachers, said Md Mahmudul Hasan, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Sundarbans East Zone.

Three trawlers, deer hunting traps, locally-made weapons and stoves were also seized, Hasan said adding that all of them were confined to Sundarbans Chandpai Range office.

Legal action will be taken against them, he said.