The Border Security Force (BSF) effected seizures of smuggled items to the tune of Rs 39 crore in 2020 along the 443 kilometres of the Meghalaya-Bangladesh border, it said in a press release today.
This included 10,000 cattle, valued at Rs 16 crore, along with drugs worth Rs 87 lakh. The force also apprehended 179 Indians and 19 Bangladeshis on suspicion of varied offences.
Not only have the BSF had to work in the difficult terrain – hot weather and torrential rain in summer, cold conditions in winter, dense forests – Covid-19 this year has been an additional challenge to bear, the BSF said.
“Despite all these hardships, BSF troops are looking after the border with utmost sincerity and determination as we are expected to do,” Deputy Inspector General UK Nayal added.
Meanwhile, one person was arrested by a joint team of the BSF and Meghalaya police for smuggling Yaba tablets across the international border to Bangladesh.
BSF officials said that based on inputs on smuggling launched a joint operation and arrested one Anowar Islam (21) of Jordanga village in Assam on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a joint team of the South West Garo Hills police along with BSF managed to nab a drug courier at an entry point to the state with 3,499 Yaba (methamphetamine) tablets that the accused was supposed to deliver to another person in the state.
The incident, which took place yesterday, took place at the Monabari Outpost under Ampati Police Station.
The peddler, as per his confession to the police, had entered Meghalaya from Mankachar in Assam with the consignment of drugs meant to be delivered in Garo Hills.
The consignment was intercepted by a team led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police in conjunction with BSF personnel.
“We have launched an investigation into the matter and are trying to identify the others involved in the trade. The accused was arrested at the Outpost at Monabari,” confirmed the Superintendent of Police, Rithuraj Ravi.
As per records provided by the BSF, more than 15,000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 72 Lakhs were seized during 2020.
“The Yaba tablet is consumed in Bangladesh in huge quantity despite continuous special drives against this psychotropic substance and apprehensions of involved persons by BSF and Bangladesh law enforcement agencies,” Nayal said.
