Anirudh Gupta
Ferozepur, June 8
Despite a strict lockdown here and restrictions in neighbouring Pakistan in view of the pandemic, cross-border smuggling continued unabated along the 550-km-long Indo-Pak border in Punjab.
As per information, a total of 81.84 kg of heroin worth Rs 409.22 crore was seized by law enforcement agencies, including the BSF, STF and the CIA, between March 24, when the lockdown was imposed, and May 31.
Of this, almost 55 kg contraband was recovered in the Ferozepur sector alone during this period. In the latest seizure on May 27, three plastic bottles containing 1.68 kg of heroin worth Rs 7.5 crore were seized by the jawans belonging to 136 Battalion of the BSF in this sector.
Earlier seizures were made on May 24 (2 kg), May 22 (10.19 kg and 1.90 kg in separate incidents), May 14 (7.70 kg), April 22 (1 kg) April 21 (4.5 kg), March 31, (3 kg), March 26 (5 kg), and March 23 (4.27 kg)
A BSF official said, "In the last over two months, our forces have thwarted several attempts by anti-national elements to push contraband inside the Indian territory."
He said Pakistani smugglers continued their activities taking advantage of the standing wheat crop along the border even during the lockdown period.
An intelligence official said, "This region was known for arms and gold smuggling till early 90s when the focus shifted to heroin and other psychotropic drugs. The smuggling activities are mostly taking place in border districts of Pathankot, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Amritsar and Gurdaspur."
Sources say the BSF allowed farmers to work in their fields beyond the barbed wire fence during the day. Many of them are lured by peddlers across the border to work as their carriers, they say, adding that Pakistani smugglers tie up with peddlers on this side of the border and deliver consignments through the carriers.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2MTtYot
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