(District – North 24 Parganas)
October 20, 2023, Vigilant Troops ICP Petrapole, 145 Battalion, BSF under South Bengal Frontier, foiled a gold smuggling attempt and apprehended two Bangladeshi smugglers red-handed with 11 pieces of gold biscuits of different sizes. The smugglers were trying to smuggle gold biscuits from Bangladesh to India through ICP Petrapole in Dist-North 24 Parganas in an International bus Shyamoli NR Travels running between Dhaka and Kolkata The weight of the seized gold biscuits is 2048.380 grams and the estimated value is Rs 1,23,82,457.10/- in Indian Currency.
According to the information, An International Bus (Shyamoli N R Travels) Registration No. DHME-BA12-0474, running between Dhaka to Kolkata arrived at the bus checking point in ICP Petrapole for security clearance. During a routine search by the BD team and sniffer dog squad of 145 Battalion, BSF, Jawans found 11 pieces of Gold in different shapes and sizes (Seems to be gold) wrapped with tape and concealed in the Footrest of Seat No. B1 & D4 of the bus. when the Driver and supervisor of the bus were asked about the gold they didn’t give any answer. Subsequently, the driver and supervisor of the bus were taken into custody and seized 11 pieces of Gold. However, the helper of the bus mingled among passengers and could not be ascertained.
Details of apprehended smugglers –
1). Md Daloar Hossain (Age-61 yrs appx as bus Driver), S/o. Younus Munshi, Vill-Barpa Purbo Para, PO-Rupsi, PS-Rupganj, Distt- Narayanganj, Bangladesh, 1464
(2). MD Samim Mahmud (Age-50 yrs appx as bus Supervisor), S/o-Md Shamsuddin Ahmed, Vill-Konda West Kota Para, PS-Savar, PO-Konda, Distt- Dhaka, Bangladesh-1216
During the Introgation, Md. Daloar Hossain revealed their identity as Bangladeshi nationals. Further, he revealed that he worked as a bus driver for his livelihood and has been in this profession for the last 20 years. He said that he didn’t know anything about the hidden recovered gold and Md. Samim Mehmood revealed that he worked as a bus supervisor for his livelihood and has been in this profession for the last 12 years. Further, they revealed that they didn’t know anything about the recovered gold but they disclosed that the helper Kamarul Hossain and passport bearing No.B00752300, who was with them may know about the concealed recovered gold. Immediately the driver and supervisor of the bus had been apprehended however helper of the bus mingled among passengers and could not be ascertained.
The apprehended smugglers and the seized gold biscuits have been handed over to the Customs Office, Petrapole for further legal proceedings.
A. K Arya, DIG, Public Relations Officer, South Bengal Frontier has expressed happiness over this achievement of the Jawans. He said that BSF is taking strict steps to stop smuggling on the India-Bangladesh border. He said smugglers sometimes try to smuggle contraband across the border through various means. But BSF is fully committed to stopping any kind of smuggling on the border. He appealed to the people living on the border to report any information related to gold smuggling on their border helpline number. Anyone providing concrete information through WhatsApp message or voice message on 14419 or 9903472227 will be given a suitable reward and their identity will be kept confidential.
