Agartala: In a major triumph against a cross-border smuggling syndicate, the Border Security Force (BSF) stationed in Tripura has successfully apprehended 23 Bangladeshi smugglers and confiscated a staggering 6250 kilogrammes of sugar from Samarganj in the Southern District of the state.
Acting on specific intelligence about the illicit transportation of sugar across borders, vigilant BSF troops laid an ambush near the Border Out Post Samarganj in South Tripura District. This led to the arrest of 23 Bangladeshi smugglers who had crossed the international boundary to receive a consignment of sugar from their counterparts in Tripura.
The seized contraband includes 125 bags of sugar, totaling 6250 kg, along with the confiscation of 17 mobile phones from the apprehended smugglers. According to a statement from BSF, 22 of the smugglers hail from the bordering Feni district in Bangladesh, while one is from Chattogram district.
Despite attempts to engage in a flag meeting with the counterpart Border Guards Bangladesh regarding the extensive transborder smuggling operation, no meeting could be convened by afternoon. The BSF is in the process of filing FIRs, and the apprehended Bangladeshi smugglers will be handed over to Manu police station following a medical examination.
The statement from BSF highlighted a surge in trans-border sugar smuggling through the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura over recent years. In 2023, BSF seized a total of 5,49,950 kg of sugar, along with apprehending 16 trans-border smugglers and impounding 27 vehicles. In 2024, the numbers escalated, with 2,11,124 kg of sugar seized, along with the apprehension of 34 trans-border smugglers and the confiscation of 14 vehicles.
The successful apprehension of 23 Bangladeshi smugglers is deemed a significant setback for the trans-border smuggling syndicate operating in Tripura. The vigilant BSF troops remain committed to preventing smuggling and trans-border crimes, as emphasised in their official statement.
This success in Tripura adds to a series of recent victories against sugar smuggling. On December 11, 2023, BSF troops intercepted and thwarted a smuggling attempt on the Brahmaputra River in Assam, seizing 12,397 kg of sugar and two engine-fitted boats. Earlier, on December 8, 2023, a similar operation led to the seizure of 6,468 kg of sugar and two boats during boat patrolling in the Brahmaputra River. Additionally, the 172 Battalion of BSF Meghalaya Frontier intercepted a vehicle loaded with sugar worth Rs 30 lakhs on December 6, 2023, near the Lumshnong-Sonapur bordering area, leading to the apprehension of the vehicle’s driver due to the absence of valid documents for the sugar consignment.
These continuous victories underscore the BSF’s unwavering commitment to curbing cross-border smuggling activities and maintaining the security of the Indo-Bangladesh border.
