The vigilant jawans of the 145 Battalion at ICP Petrapole under BSF South Bengal Frontier arrested an Indian smuggler trying to smuggle gold illegally. The total weight of the seized gold is 564.460 grams, having an estimated market value of ₹ 49,13,624/-.
On March 5, jawans of the 145 Battalion of the BSF received input about a possible gold smuggling attempt through ICP Petrapole on India-Bangladesh international border in North 24 Parganas district. Accordingly, security check and surveillance was intensified at the border crossing. During routine search of passengers entering India from Bangladesh, the activities of a person seemed suspicious. When the jawans stopped the individual and scanned him with a metal detector, they detected the presence of concealed metal within his body. Upon questioning, he failed to provide a satisfactory explanation. After intense interrogation and pressure, he confessed to smuggling gold in cylindrical form concealed in his anal cavity. The BSF jawans detained him and informed senior officers. They recovered gold dust wrapped in polythene and shaped into a cylinder from his body in the presence of the officers .The total weight of the seized gold is 564.460 grams having estimated value of ₹49,13,624/-.
During furter interrogation, the smuggler revealed that he is a resident of Mumbai and works as a fashion designer in Dubai. Driven by greed and lure to make quick money, he devised a plan to smuggle gold from Dubai to India via Bangladesh. However, his plan was foiled due to the alertness and vigilance of the BSF jawans leading to his immediate arrest. The arrested smuggler has been handed over to the concerned authorities along with the seized gold dust for further legal proceedings and further investigations are underway to uncover additional details related to the smuggling operation.
Notably two similar cases of gold smuggling with similar modus operandi involving concealment inside the body were reported on February 20 and 21. A total of 2.54 kg of gold was seized having estimated market value of ₹2.23 crore in these cases.
The Public Relations Officer of BSF South Bengal Frontier stated that the vigilant BSF jawans are fully capable and committed to preventing illegal smuggling activities along the border. He appealed the border residents to share any kind of information related to gold smuggling on BSF’s Seema Sathi helpline number 14419 or on 9903472227 through WhatsApp message or voice message. A suitable reward will be granted for credible information, and the informer’s identity will remain confidential.
