BSF seized Rs 461 crore-worth contraband items on Indo-Bangladesh border in 2024, says Centre

NEW DELHI: The Border Security Force (BSF) made a record seizure of contraband items worth Rs 461 crore on the Indo-Bangladesh border last year, the home ministry informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Replying to a question, junior home minister Nityanand Rai said contraband items valued at over Rs 2806 crore had been seized by BSF personnel on the eastern border in the last 10 years, with the highest annual seizure taking place in 2024.

The 2024 seizure value was 6.7% more than that in 2023. Interestingly, the percentage increase in seizures between 2022 and 2023 was far higher at 23.6%.

Rai said the BSF has adopted a multi-pronged approach to check smuggling activity along the Indo-Bangladesh border, which includes round-the-clock surveillance and patrolling as well as establishment of observation posts.

He shared that the BSF had increased deployment of its personnel at the border, constructed border fencing, installed floodlights, was using watercraft and boats and had also set up border outposts (BOP) for the domination of the riverine area.

The BSF has deployed advanced technological equipment like handheld thermal imager (HHTI), night vision device (NVD), twin telescope and unmanned aerial vehicles, besides upgrading the intelligence setup and enhancing coordination with the state governments and intelligence agencies to curb smuggling, he added.

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