The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a massive gold smuggling attempt at the India-Bangladesh border wherein the BSF personnel seized a cache worth Rs 6.7 crore. The border authorities apprehended one of the accused with 16 gold bars and four gold biscuits, collectively weighing around 10.73 kg.
The operation was carried out around 1:30 pm on Monday based on intelligence input to troops of Border Outpost Horandipur, 32 Battalion, BSF, on the South Bengal Frontier.
The accused was arrested after two swift squads under the said BSF command laid an ambush in a suspicious area exposed to potential smuggling. The BSF jawans intercepted them, however, one accused managed to escape.
Upon the arrest of the accused, a huge cache of gold was found inside a cloth belt tied around the waist of the accused, who was subsequently taken into custody.
The accused has been identified as Imadul Biswas of Maluapada, Bhimpur district – Nadia in West Bengal.
During an initial probe, he confessed that he and his accomplice, Raju Mandal (who evaded arrest), had procured the illegal stash of gold from Alamgir, said to be a native of Bojtala in Bangladesh.
Subsequently, the accused smuggler and the seized gold were handed over to the Directorate of Intelligence (DRI) Kolkata for further formalities.