Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized smuggled goods valued at over Tk174 crore from various border regions and strategic locations across the country in July.
During the drives, BGB confiscated a diverse range of contraband items, including 9.267kg of gold, 19.838kg of silver, 15,041 sarees, 8,811 pieces of assorted clothing, and 2,296 ready-made garments, said a press release.
BGB also seized 2,941 metres of Thaan fabric, 289,061 cosmetic items, and more than 1.09 million firecrackers.
BGB also recovered 3,921 cubic feet of timber, 3,345kg of tea leaves, 68,129kg of betel nuts, 16,134kg of fertiliser, 10,875kg of coal, and 40,373kg of thread and fishing nets, 343 mobile phones, 468 batteries, 7,861 mobile displays, and 46,644 eyeglasses.
BGB also seized agricultural and perishable items, including 6,024kg of fruits, 607 litres of edible oil, 7,835kg of cumin, 1,963kg of coffee, 222,899 pieces of chocolates, and 191 bags of shrimp fry.
Additionally, 943 cattle and buffaloes were rescued from illegal trade networks.
Various transport vehicles used in smuggling were also seized, including five trucks or covered vans, seven pickups or Mahindra-type vehicles, seven private cars or microbuses, 206 boats, 57 CNG-run or three-wheeler vehicles, 53 motorcycles, and 42 bicycles or vans.
A cache of illegal arms and ammunition was also recovered, comprising 10 pistols (domestic and foreign), one revolver, one submachine gun (SMG), two rifles, four hand grenades, five magazines, 75 rounds of ammunition, 500 grams of gunpowder, and 11 other firearms, further raising concerns over armed smuggling networks.
BGB’s also seized significant quantities of narcotics and contraband substances, including 989,583 yaba tablets, 816 grams of crystal meth (ice), 3.45kg of heroin, 140 grams of cocaine, and 10,687 bottles of phensedyl.
Authorities also confiscated 7,870 bottles of foreign liquor, 334 litres of locally brewed alcohol, 941 cans of beer, 2,021.5kg of cannabis, and 406,637 packs of bidi and cigarettes.
Additionally, 455kg raw tobacco, 80,699 intoxicating tablets and injections, 4,959 bottles of Eskuf syrup, 9,298 sildenafil tablets (Anegra/Senegra), and over 3.77 million miscellaneous pharmaceutical tablets were also seized.
A total of 213 individuals were arrested for involvement in smuggling and drug trafficking, while 204 Bangladeshi citizens and nine Indian nationals were detained for illegal border crossings. Legal proceedings have been initiated against all detainees.
Meanwhile, 540 Myanmar nationals attempting to infiltrate the country illegally were intercepted and subsequently repatriated to their homeland.
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