Alert troops of Border Outpost Tarali-1,143rd Battalion BSF under South Bengal Frontier foiled a smuggling attempt in the border area of North 24 Parganas District of West Bengal and seized 43 Bangladeshi passports and 06 Police Clearance Certificates issued by Bangladesh Police when the smugglers were trying to smuggle these documents from India to Bangladesh.
On September 7, 2024 at about 11.55 PM during routine patrolling, BSF Boat Patrolling Party noticed a suspicious white sack floating on the Sonai River. On closer inspection, the patrol party identified that the bag was being pulled from Bangladesh side with the help of a rope and an attempt was being made to take it across the river. Acting swiftly, BSF jawans used anchors and hooks to pull out the bag. The seized bag was brought to the Tarali-1 post and on opening and inspection, 43 Bangladeshi passports and 06 police clearance certificates issued by Bangladesh Police for Croatia were found. The seizure of a large quantity of Bangladeshi passports and clearance certificates issued by Bangladesh Police indicates possible involvement in a trans-border smuggling racket. The passports and police clearance certificates could possibly be used for illegal immigration or human trafficking activities.
The seized items have been handed over to the Customs Office at Tentulia/local police for further investigation and appropriate legal action.
The Public Relations Officer of South Bengal Frontier said that BSF jawans are working day and night to prevent crimes like smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border and hence those involved in such crimes are being arrested. Their designs are being foiled time and again, the officer said, adding that no smuggler with bad intentions will be spared. The BSF is committed to maintaining the integrity of the international border and ensuring that activities like human trafficking, smuggling and illegal immigration are thwarted.
