BSF apprehends gold smuggler along India-Bangladesh border, seizes gold worth ₹3 crores

File photo of Border Security Force along India-Bangladesh border
| Photo Credit: ANI

Troops of South Bengal Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a gold smuggling attempt along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district on February 14.

According to a statement by the BSF, the smuggler was apprehended while trying to smuggle 25 gold biscuits from Bangladesh into India. The gold that was seized weighed 3.42 kg, which has an estimated market value of ₹2,95,90,182.

The accused, a resident of Padamvila village in North 24 Parganas district, was apprehended after personnel of BSF’s Border Outpost (BOP) Bithari received concrete intelligence on a gold smuggling attempt. 

At about 4:45 p.m. on Friday, jawans intercepted a ‘suspicious motorcyclist’ near BOP Bithari camp, and recovered 25 gold biscuits from a cavity under the fuel tank of the motorcycle. 

Following interrogation and a thorough search, BSF jawans immediately seized the gold biscuits and took the smuggler into custody. The accused was then brought to BOP Bithari for further action and consequently handed over to the concerned department for further legal proceedings.

Further interrogation revealed that the accused had been in touch with a Bangladeshi smuggler for the last two months. He was allegedly instructed to drop off the gold consignment at a predetermined spot along the road near Bithari Market, after which he was to be paid ₹1,500.

Spokesperson for the BSF’s South Bengal Frontier, N.K. Pandey, DIG, stated that the BSF is implementing strict measures to curb smuggling and illegal infiltration, despite smugglers adopting new tactics. He added that the BSF is fully committed to ending illegal activities on the border.