Shillong, July 4: The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday said smuggling of sugar from India to Bangladesh has been discussed at the highest level.

Smuggling of sugar has assumed alarming proportion from India to Bangladesh, mainly through Meghalaya. According to BSF officials, 21,51,498 kg of sugar has been seized by the BSF from January till June 30, 2024.

This issue was discussed at the level of the four-day BSF-Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) border coordination meeting which concluded here on Thursday.

Inspector General, Meghalaya frontier, Harbax Singh Dhillon said the issue has been discussed at the highest level and vulnerable areas have been identified.

Sources said, the state government is first responsible for failing to check and stop trucks crossing all over the state check gates and moving to the border.

“The BSF is posted only at the border. How these trucks are able to move so freely with forged documents etc. across the state is something that needs an answer,” a source said.

On the other hand, Singh said the matter has been raised and discussed with the “Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home, Prestone Tynsong with the Chief Secretary, DP Wahlang and the Director General of Police.”

Sources informed that the matter was discussed right up to the level of the Ministry of Home Affairs and there has been concern that such smuggling has continued from the Meghalaya sector.

The IG said that over the past few months there was a shortage of manpower, due to the Lok Sabha elections, as BSF personnel were deputed for election duty.

Now with elections over and the manpower back to their area of operation, Singh was optimistic that such smuggling of sugar would come down. Singh assured the BSF is committed to bring down the smuggling of sugar to Bangladesh to the “barest minimum.”

Meanwhile, the bilateral meeting also resolved in its joint record of discussion to have zero tolerance against smuggling of drugs, firearms and explosives and human trafficking.

As far as influx of Bangladeshi refugees to India is concerned, the BSF said “touts” have been arrested in India and such individuals have also been identified in Bangladesh and the BGB has assured to take action.

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