Joint operation by BSF, RPF leads to arrest of woman with smuggled gold valued at Rs 57 lakh

Kolkata, July 23 (IANS) In a joint operation with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the Border Security Force (BSF) arrested a woman from the Ranaghat railway station, in the Nadia district of West Bengal, with smuggled gold valued at over Rs 57 lakh. The operation was carried out on July 22 close to the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB).

“On Tuesday, the BSF received an alert that a woman is transporting a consignment of smuggled gold by train. We immediately tracked the woman to Ranaghat and informed the RPF. In the joint operation that followed around 12.55 pm, the woman was caught with five gold biscuits weighing 583 grams. The market value of the seized gold is Rs 57,68,785,” N K Pandey, DIG and spokesperson, South Bengal Frontier, BSF, said.

The RPF identified the woman based on information provided by the BSF and apprehended her. She was taken to the RPF office, where a search by female constables led to the recovery of the gold.

“During a joint interrogation by the BSF and RPF, the woman confessed that she received a call from a man at 10.30 am that day, instructing her to deliver the consignment. She was promised Rs 1,000 for the job. She boarded the train at Harishnagar Halt, where the gold biscuits were handed over to her. She was directed to deliver it to a person at the Simurali station, about 60 km from Kolkata,” the DIG said.

The gold consignment was on its way to Kolkata, officials suspect. The gold biscuits have been handed over to the concerned department for further legal processing.

“The BSF not only guards the border, it also acts against cross-border criminal activity, such as infiltration, smuggling and human trafficking. Our troops carry out their duties effectively after overcoming all challenges. I appeal to those living along the border to provide information about gold smuggling to us,” Pandey said,

The BSF maintains a "Seema Saathi" helpline number 14419, where any information can be given. People can also send text or voice messages to the WhatsApp number 9903472227. Those who provide credible inputs are suitably rewarded and their identities are kept confidential.

--IANS

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