Dhaka: Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), in different drives, seized smuggled goods, arms, ammunition, and drugs worth over Taka 147.84 crore from different border areas and other places of the country in December 2024.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the smuggled goods seized included 4 kg 192 grams of gold, 10 kg and 125 grams of silver, 11,523 sarees, 9,617 pieces of three-piece sets, shirt pieces, shawls, blankets, 8,387 ready-made garments, and 10,204 meters of cloth. Additionally, 789,152 cosmetic items, 4,702 pieces of imitation jewelry, and 1,342,603 firecrackers were confiscated. Other seized items included 6,781 cubic feet of wood, 6,036 kg of tea leaves, 21,490 kg of betel nuts, 395,395 kg of sugar, 12,625 kg of fertilizers, and 1,774 packets of various seeds. The list continued with 80,940 kg of coal, 520 cubic feet of stone, 1,936,200 cubic feet of sand, 583 mobile phone sets, 30,670 spectacles, 46,966 kg of various fruits, 131,463 kg of garlic, 11,788 kg of cumin, one touchstone idol, and 560 grams of snake venom.
The BGB also recovered several vehicles, including five trucks, one bus, six pickup vans, three private cars or microbuses, three trolleys, 74 boats, 31 CNG-run three-wheelers (easy bikes), 72 motorcycles, 22 vans, and 30 bicycles. In terms of arms and ammunition, the paramilitary force recovered one pistol, one rifle, one air gun, five magazines, 14 rounds of bullets, one mortar shell, one grenade, and one rocket shell.
During the month, the BGB seized a significant amount of narcotics and other contraband drugs, including 266,262 pieces of Yaba tablets, 1.79 kg of crystal meth ice, 6.267 kg of heroin, and 5.788 kg of cocaine. Also confiscated were 28,913 bottles of Phensidyl, 12 bottles of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 18,324 bottles of foreign-made liquor, 592 liters of local liquor, 921 cans of beer, and 1,093 kg of ganja. Additional contraband included 102,800 packets of bidis and cigarettes, 41,299 narcotic tablets or injections, 3,524 bottles of Iskayef syrup, and 1,230 bottles of Mk DYL or Cofidil. Furthermore, 3,711,547 pieces of various medicines and tablets and 77,892 Enegra or Zenegra tablets were seized.
The BGB arrested 208 individuals involved in drug and commodity smuggling in the border areas, along with 426 Bangladeshi and 18 Indian nationals for illegally crossing the border. Additionally, 772 Myanmar citizens attempting to enter Bangladesh illegally were sent back to their country.