BSF seizes drugs, contraband worthRs 42 crore during last one year

AGARTALA: BSF troopers seized drugs, various contrabands and cattle worth of Rs 42 crore during the past one year along Tripura's borders with Bangladesh, said officials here.

Border Security Force's Tripura frontier Inspector General (IG) Susanta Kumar Nath said the drugs seized by the troopers include Yaba tablets, ganja (cannabis), various cough syrups etc.

The Methamphetamine tablets (also called Yaba tablet or party tablet) contain a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine and are misused as high-dose drugs in Bangladesh and neighbouring countries, besides India while various types of cough syrups containing Codeine Phosphate are used as a common drugs illegally in Bangladesh.

Nath, a senior IPS officer, said that the BSF during the past one year has also seized 2,209 number of cattle worth around Rs 2 crore and 2.237 kg of gold bars and gold biscuits valued at around Rs 1 crore.

"As far as prevention and control of trans-border crime is concerned, the highest priorities are being given by the BSF in preventing and containing the smuggling of narcotics, drugs and cattle," said Nath.

He said that due to the alertness and vigilance of BSF troopers along the borders during the past one year, 131 persons attempting to cross the international border illegally have been apprehended by the force, including 85 Indian nationals and 46 Bangladeshis.

"The Tripura frontier is very challenging due to the climatic conditions in remote areas and inhospitable topography. Besides, the 856 km frontier is highly prone to malaria epidemic," said the BSF IG.

To a question, the BSF official said that terrorist outfits are trying to regroup and strengthen their activities, but the security forces, including the BSF, are always on close vigil over the situations.

"Of the 856-km border with Bangladesh, 95 per cent of the frontiers are already fenced and due to the objections raised by the BGB, the remaining portions are yet to be fenced. However, we are trying to complete the fencing work within the next one year," he said. (IANS)

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