West Bengal: BSF foils smuggling attempt, seizes gold biscuits worth Rs 1.25 crore from Indo-Bangladesh border
Times of India | 6 November 2024
BSF seizes gold biscuits worth Rs 1.25 crore from Indo-Bangladesh border KOLKATA: Border Security Force personnel in the South Bengal frontier seized gold worth 1.25 crores while it was being smuggled into India from Bangladesh over two days.
On Tuesday, BSF personnel at the Border Outpost Haridaspur received specific information indicating that an Indian gold carrier would be smuggling gold from Bagdah to Bangaon. "Acting on this information, BSF jawans identified a suspect on a motorcycle near the BDO office in Bangaon and immediately apprehended him. During questioning, the suspect identified himself as a resident of Krishna Chandrapur village in North 24 Parganas and admitted to carrying 10 gold biscuits," said the BSF spokesperson.
Upon interrogation, the man revealed to BSF personnel that a friend offered him work as a gold carrier in October, promising him payment for each successful delivery. He was instructed to collect gold from an unidentified individual near Krishnachandrapur and deliver it to different contacts in Bangaon. For each completed delivery, he would receive Rs 1,000. However, he was intercepted before he could deliver the consignment, the official said.
Officials said the seized gold weighed 1,168 grams and is valued at approximately Rs 87.8 lakhs.
On Monday, BSF apprehended another smuggler with gold worth Rs 37.5 lakhs hidden in slippers at the Indo-Bangladesh border in Murshidabad. Acting on a tip, the Company Commander at Border Outpost Farjipara instructed the jawans to be on the lookout for a suspect from Muslimpara village, who was expected to attempt smuggling during the morning shift.
Around 11 am, the suspect approached the BSF search point on a motorcycle, and four gold biscuits were found concealed in the suspect’s slippers. The individual, along with the seized gold, was taken to Border Outpost Charbhadra Base for further action. The seized gold weighed 466.5 grams and is estimated to be worth Rs 37.5 lakhs.
"During interrogation, the suspect revealed that he received the gold from two unknown Bangladeshi smugglers. He was instructed to cross the BSF domination line and deliver the gold consignment to an unidentified individual in Uday Nagar Colony (Muslimpara) by 12 noon. For his efforts, he was promised Rs 500 per biscuit," officials said.
The detained men, along with the seized gold, were handed over to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) in Kolkata for further action.
"We have intensified our crackdown on gold smuggling along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal, adapting multiple strategies to curb the illicit activities. We are urging local residents to report any information on gold smuggling to BSF’s Seema Sathi Helpline at 14419 or via WhatsApp at 9903472227. The informants would be rewarded, and their identities kept confidential," the BSF spokesperson said.