(District- North 24 Parganas)
On April 27th, 2023, the 145th Battalion under South Bengal Frontier at ICP Petrapole apprehended a Bangladeshi woman smuggling 27 different types of gold bars weighing 2.145 kg. The estimated value of the seized gold is Rs.1,29,32,133/-.
BSF Mahila jawans deployed at Indian ICP Petrapole received information from BSF intelligence that a Bangladeshi woman smuggler was about to enter the Indian border from the passenger terminal with gold. Upon arrival, the Mahila jawans stopped and searched the suspect, revealing that she had hidden 27 different types of gold bars in a cloth and tied it around her waist. The apprehended woman smuggler was identified as Manika Dhar (34) from Chittagong District, Bangladesh.
During interrogation, the woman smuggler admitted that Suman Dhar, a resident of Chittagong, had given her the gold bars. After reaching India, she was supposed to deliver the golden biscuits to an unknown person in Barasat. She further admitted that this was her first time smuggling gold, and that she was going to receive Rs. 2,000 for her work.
The apprehended woman smuggler and the seized gold bars were handed over to Custom Office Petrapole for further legal action.
A spokesperson for the South Bengal Frontier, BSF commended the vigilance and understanding of the BSF jawans, stating that smugglers are being caught continuously and their plans are constantly being foiled. He expressed satisfaction with the jawans’ success in intercepting the smugglers and seizing the gold.
The Border Security Force urges people living on the border to report any information related to gold smuggling to BSF’s Seema Saathi helpline number, 14419. Additionally, South Bengal Frontier has issued another number, 9903472227, on which WhatsApp or voice messages related to gold smuggling can be sent. People who provide concrete information will receive a suitable reward, and their identity will be kept confidential.
( Source: BSF)
