Agartala, July 28, 2-25: In a late-night operation, the Border Security Force (BSF) seized a large consignment of medicines worth approximately Rs 60 lakh from the Siddhinagar border area at Bilonia under South Tripura district thwarting an attempt to smuggle the items across the India-Bangladesh border. Three individuals including the vehicle driver have been detained in connection with the case.

According to BSF sources, the operation was conducted based on specific intelligence inputs. A suspicious vehicle was intercepted near the border area. Upon inspection, various types of medicines without valid documentation were found concealed inside.

“The vehicle was intercepted during routine patrolling based on specific intelligence. A thorough search led to the recovery of medicines worth over Rs 60 lakh. The accused failed to produce any valid documents regarding the consignment,” a BSF official said.

The driver and co-driver of the vehicle reportedly told the BSF that the medicines were loaded by two individuals from the Belonia area and that they were only instructed to transport the consignment to the border. “They claimed the two men who loaded the goods were supposed to follow them to the drop location, but did not turn up,” said a BSF officer.

BSF arrested three individuals, including the driver, and seized the vehicle used in the smuggling attempt. The recovered items have been handed over to Customs for further investigation. A formal case has been registered, and a probe is underway to uncover the full network involved in the smuggling operation.

“Preliminary investigation suggests that the medicines were meant to be smuggled into Bangladesh. We are coordinating with other agencies to trace the suppliers and identify the buyers across the border,” a Customs official stated.