Agartala, Feb 6: The Border Security Forces (BSF) apprehended 23 Bangladeshi smugglers and recovered 125 bags of sugar weighing 6,250 kgs from South Tripura district on Tuesday.

Acting on specific information regarding trans-border smuggling of sugar, BSF troops ambushed the area of Border Out Post in Samarganj, under South Tripura District and apprehended the individuals.

BSF sources reported that 25-30 other individuals from Bangladesh crossed the border in small groups to collect a sugar consignment from their Indian counterparts.

The authorities also seized 17 mobile phones from the arrested Bangladeshi smugglers.

Out of the 23 smugglers, 22 are from the bordering area of Feni district in Bangladesh, and 1 of them is from Chattogram district.

The Border Guards Bangladesh, the counterpart Border Guarding Force, was contacted for a flag meeting, but it couldn’t be held until afternoon, according to a press statement from BSF.

Meanwhile, an FIR has been lodged, and the apprehended Bangladeshi smugglers are being handed over to the Manu police station after a medical examination.

There has been an increase in trans-border sugar smuggling through the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura in recent years.

In 2023, a total of 5,49,950 kg of sugar, along with 16 smugglers and 27 vehicles, were seized by BSF troops deployed under BSF Tripura FTR.

In 2024, so far, a total of 2,11,124 kg of sugar, along with 34 smugglers and 14 vehicles, have been seized by the BSF troops.

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