The paramilitary force Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized drugs and smuggled goods worth Taka 957.13 crore in separate drives conducted by 13 battalions under its Sarail Region from January to October 15 this year.
“During the period, the border force seized a large quantity of narcotics, foreign liquor, firearms, ammunition and explosives.
It also conducted drives against the illegal extraction of stone and sand,” Lieutenant Colonel Hasibul Islam, commanding officer of the BGB-4 Feni Battalion, told the media on Sunday.
He said 211 border outposts (BOPs) under 13 battalions across four sectors of the Sarail Region were maintaining round-the-clock surveillance and patrols along nearly 1,204 kilometres of the border.
During the 10-month period, BGB personnel recovered 11 pistols, seven air guns, five pipe guns, 62 rounds of ammunition, 19 kilogrammes of high explosives, 117 detonators and 77 metres of detonator wire, the commanding officer said.
In anti-narcotics drives, the force seized 340,815 pieces of yaba tablets, 14,967 kilogrammes of cannabis, 63,755 bottles of foreign liquor, 16,680 bottles of phensedyl and cough syrup, and 432,510 tablets of various narcotic drugs.
A total of 333 people were arrested in connection with the operations, and legal action was taken against them, Lt Col Hasibul added.