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BSF unearths underground storerooms near Indo-Bangladesh Border; 62,200 Phensedyl bottles recovered

IANS January 25, 2025 249 views

The Border Security Force just made an incredible bust near the Indo-Bangladesh border, uncovering three secret underground storerooms packed with 62,200 bottles of banned Phensedyl. This massive seizure, worth over Rs 1.4 crore, reveals a complex smuggling network that transports the codeine-based cough syrup into Bangladesh. Officials believe this is just the tip of the iceberg and are investigating the entire supply chain. The operation, conducted in West Bengal's Nadia district, demonstrates the ongoing efforts to combat cross-border drug trafficking.

"Such a huge seizure took all of us by surprise." - N K Pandey, DIG BSF South Bengal Frontier
Kolkata, Jan 25: Ahead of Republic Day, the Border Security Force (BSF) claims to have busted a major smuggling racket along the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) in West Bengal's Nadia district.

Key Points

1

BSF joint operation reveals three hidden underground storage locations

2

Seized codeine-based cough syrup worth over Rs 1.4 crore

3

Smuggling network spanning manufacturing to border areas exposed

In a joint operation with the local police, the BSF located three underground storerooms on Saturday where 62,200 bottles of Phensedyl were stored.

Phensedyl is a banned codeine-based cough syrup that is smuggled across the IBB to Bangladesh, where it is sold at high prices as a recreational drug. The value of the seized bottles is around Rs 1,40,58,444.

"Such a huge seizure took all of us by surprise. The smuggling of Phensedyl is a major problem but we weren't aware of this modus operandi of storing huge quantities close to the border for easier transportation. The BSF and police teams were acting on accurate and reliable intelligence inputs. Troops of the 32 Bn BSF, posted at the Tungi Border Outpost and officials from Kishanganj police station carried out the cordon and search operation in the Naghata area of Majhdia town. The seizure is a big blow to the smuggling syndicate that operates in that area," said N K Pandey, DIG and spokesperson, South Bengal Frontier, BSF.

He said that of the three storerooms, two were under dense vegetation, while the third was under a hut built of corrugated galvanised iron (CGI) sheets.

DIG Pandey said that unfortunately for the men in uniform, there were no people inside when the raid was carried out.

"Officials are not writing off the possibility of lookouts being posted by the smugglers to keep a watch on any movement by the authorities. This is possible in such a large-scale racket in which crores of rupees are involved. Though only 62,200 bottles were found during the raid, the storage facility had the capacity to hold more stock, which may already have been sent across the border," he said.

DIG Pandey said that the bottles, neatly packed in cartons, have been handed over to the concerned department for necessary legal action.

He added that the police are trying to locate the source and the supply chain that operates from the manufacturing units to the border areas.

"More information is being gathered on this complex network of smugglers and this may lead to bigger revelations in the future," said DIG Pandey.

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