BSF foils smuggling bid in West Bengal, nabs smuggler with gold worth over Rs 71 lakh

North 24 Parganas (West Bengal) [India], August 24 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a gold smuggling attempt and arrested a smuggler with eight gold biscuits weighing 974 grams worth more than Rs 71 lakh at the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal.
The BSF carried out the operation on August 23rd. The apprehended individual has been identified as Tanmoy Mondal, a resident of the North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal.

"On 23/08/2024, thwarting the attempt of gold smuggling on the basis of specific information, vigilant BSF troops of Border Outpost Tarali-1, 143 Battalion under South Bengal Frontier, apprehended an Indian smuggler with 8 gold biscuits weighing a total of 974 grams while being smuggled from Bangladesh to India. The estimated value of the seized gold is Rs 71,16,044," as per a BSF press release.
Around 1155 hrs, acting on specific information about gold smuggling, alert troops on border duty intercepted a suspected person who was riding a scooty. During the search, troops recovered 8 gold biscuits. Troops apprehended the person and seized the gold biscuits.
"The apprehended person has been identified as Tanmoy Mondal (name changed), r/o Vill- Hakimpur (Majherpara), PO-Hakimpur, PS- Swarupnagar, Dist- North 24 PGs (WB)," as per the release.
During interrogation, he revealed that on 22/08/2024 at about 2130 hrs, he received 8 gold biscuits from an unknown Bangladeshi national near Pachilghat, Hakimpur Biswaspara. After that, he concealed 8 gold biscuits in a cavity made in his scooty.
On 23/08/2024 while he was attempting to cross the BSF domination line via Hakimpur Check Point, riding scooty to go further to Bithari, he was apprehended by BSF troops at Hakimpur Check Point along with 8 gold biscuits, BSF stated in the release.
Further, he revealed that after crossing the BSF domination line he had to hand over those gold Biscuits to another unknown smuggler outside the Bithari market for which he would have got Rs 4,000, BSF stated.
"The apprehended person and seized items have been handed over to the customs office Tentulia," BSF stated. (ANI)