Indian sarees, shawls seized in Cumilla border

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh’s Cumilla Battalion (10 BGB) seized Indian sarees and shawls worth about Tk 68.38 lakh from the border area in Cumilla on Friday.

The consignment was recovered from the Bibirbazar border area under Adarsha Sadar upazila during a drive conducted by the BGB in the early hours of today, confirmed Lieutenant Colonel Mir Ali Ejaz, Commanding Officer of Cumilla Battalion (10 BGB) on Friday morning.

He said the BGB has been conducting regular drives to curb cross-border smuggling and illegal drug trafficking. As part of the ongoing operations, a special patrol team from Kotakbazar Post under Bibirbazar BOP conducted a drive around 12:40 am.

During the operation, the patrol team found an abandoned mini pickup about eight kilometers inside Bangladesh territory in the Palpara area. The BGB members seized high-quality Indian sarees and shawls of various brands from the vehicle. The estimated market value of the seized goods is around Tk 68.38 lakh.

According to BGB sources, the area is one of the active points used for smuggling of phensedyl, cattle, gold, drugs and other contraband items. Surveillance has been further strengthened in the area to prevent cross-border smuggling.

The seized goods are in the process of being handed over to the customs authorities as part of legal procedures, BGB sources added.