BSF Cross Border Smuggling: Police Investigation Can Deliver Results

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Inspector General (IG) of BSF Frontier Headquarters, Guwahati, Rajesh Kumar has said that it's through investigation by the State police force that the big fishes involved in the Indo-Bangladesh cross-border smuggling can be brought to the book.

Addressing the media here on Monday, the IG said, "The smugglers we catch are mostly couriers. The big fishes seldom come to the border. Since we hand over the apprehended couriers to the State police forces, it's only through their investigation that the big fishes can be caught. Such successes were achieved in West Bengal in 2020.

"The smugglers keep changing their modus operandi, so do we. As and when their style of working is busted, they shift to newer ways. Smuggling is high at night, when there are dense fog, heavy rains and floods.

"We took up the challenge, and our efforts have paid off. From January 1 to December 31, 2020, the total seizure is worth around Rs 20.70 crore in the forms of cattle, phensedyl, yaba tablets, sukhi tablets, ganja, opium and other contraband items.

"In 2020, as many as 22,321 cattle were seized against 22,324 in 2019; 29,688 bottles Phensedyl against 18,252 bottles in 2019; 3256.588 kg ganja against 1126.15 kg in 2019 and 68,684 Yaba tablets against 22,635 in 2019.

"In 2020, we apprehended 35 Bangladeshi nationals against 27 in 2019 and 263 Indian nationals against 219 in 2019."

When asked if there was exfiltration from India to Bangladesh after the final NRC was published in Assam, the IG said, "Not many such people were seen. If they make such attempts in the riverine border they'll put their lives into danger."

He further said that two units to tackle human trafficking have been set up under the Guwahati Frontier. "Our relations with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are cordial; both sides are putting in their best efforts to promote bilateral relations. The BGB has helped in resolving many issues on the border, besides maintaining peace and tranquility. A total of 12 Bangladeshi nationals who had crossed the border inadvertently were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh.

"The Director General-level Border Coordination Conference was held in December 2020 at Frontier Guwahati to discuss matters related to border management and mutual interests and better coordination and synergy between two border guarding forces.

"Day and night SCPs (Simultaneous Coordinated Patrols) are being carried out by BSF and BGB to control smuggling and trans-border crimes and to maintain peace and tranquility along the international border," he added.

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