BIG ACHIEVEMENT BY BSF: 40 GOLD BISCUITS WORTH RS 2.57 CRORES RECOVERED FROM A POND

By a Staff Reporter

On March 6, 2023, at around 10:30 am, troops of Border Out Post Kalyani, 158 Battalion under South Bengal Frontier, based on reliable intelligence, conducted a thorough search of the marshy area of a pond and recovered 40 gold biscuits. The weight of the seized gold bars is about 4.6 Kg, and the estimated value in the market is Rs 2.57 crore.

A few months ago, a smuggler attempted to smuggle some contraband through water filled pond. Seeing the jawans on duty, the smuggler jumped into the pond. The troops informed their company commander, and the smuggler was pulled out of the water and searched, but nothing was recovered from him. A massive search operation was launched by cordoning the area. However, due to the water-filled terrain, the jawans could not find anything, and the smuggler was allowed to leave.

After a few days, information was received that the smuggler had hidden a large consignment of Gold in the pond under the water before escaping. South Bengal Frontier had seized more than 113 kg of gold at the border in 2022, and smugglers have been carrying out gold smuggling adopting various modus operandi. Frontier Headquarters South Bengal analyzes the modus operandi of smuggling used by the smugglers, and this new method could not be ruled out. In the past, smugglers have used various methods, including hiding gold in motorcycle parts, under the cabin and cavities of import-export trucks, throwing over the fence, hiding in slippers or saris, targeting and hiding in school children's bags, hiding in farming tools or the lower part of the body, smuggling by organized smugglers, smuggling in jars on the pretext of selling fish, and hiding in luggage by passengers on ICP, etc. After studying the smugglers' modus operandi in-depth, South Bengal Frontier issued a pamphlet for the information of jawans.

Based on the information of concealing of Gold in the pond, the Coy Comdr of the BOP increased security in that particular area and posted a sentry to keep watch. The water was expected to dry up, so the team waited for few days.

Recently, another information was received that smugglers would enter the pond on the pretext of playing Holi and try to retrieve the hidden consignment of gold. As a result, it was decided to conduct a thorough search of the pond.

Last night, a BSF search team was formed under the leadership of officers. The team was equipped with modern gadgets and imparted training to carry out intense search so that hidden gold could be recovered. Today early in the morning a thorough search using an F3 land mine detector and metal detectors was started in the target area of Pond. During the search, 40 gold biscuits were found in the pond. The search operation is still ongoing in the area.

The spokesman of South Bengal Frontier stated that smugglers try to smuggle in different ways, but due to the vigilance and understanding of BSF jawans, smugglers are being caught continuously, and their plans are constantly being foiled. He expressed satisfaction with the jawans' success.

Border Security Force urges people living on the border to report any information related to gold smuggling to BSF's Seema Saathi helpline number, 14419. Additionally, South Bengal Frontier has issued another number, 9903472227, on which WhatsApp or voice messages related to gold smuggling can be sent. People who provide concrete information will receive suitable reward money, and their identity will be kept confidential.