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Disruption in the export trade at ICP-Petrapole
Petrapole,North 24 Parganas
Due to the spate in the smuggling activities at the ICP-Petrapole in the recent past, BSF has taken many steps to upgrade its surveillance and vigilance measures. For few days, there were inputs that few drivers are involved in carrying out trans-border crimes such as smuggling of gold, silver, phensedyl syrup, drugs, etc while engaged in the export & import of goods between India & Bangladesh. Consequently, on 16th Jan, 2022 BSF carried out the surprise checking of the authenticity of the driving licenses of the drivers who are engaged in the export & import by road through ICP-Petrapole. BSF found fake driving licenses in the possession of the drivers and therefore seized 52 such driving licenses. On 17th Jan, 2022, again 30 more trucks drivers were found in the possession of fake driving license. BSF handed over total 82 fake driving licenses to the Customs. The concerned authorities of Customs & Land Port Authority of India were conveyed that BSF cannot allow those trucks to go to Bangladesh whose drivers are found in the possession of fake driving license.
BSF stated that no driver with fake driving licence can be allowed to ply the trucks to Bangladesh at any cost because such drivers obtain fake Car Passes from the Customs Department on the basis of driving licenses upon which BSF allow the trucks to go inside Bangladesh. In order to ensure smooth running of the trade between India & Bangladesh, BSF has informed Bangaon Transport Association to follow the Standing Operating Procedure so that security and interests of the Nations are not compromised.
The reasons on which BSF has beefed up the security at the ICP.
BSF is taking lot of precautions to check all illegal activities at the ICP-Petrapole. Recently, on 04.01.2022, smuggled gold worth around Rs 1,44,22,356/- was seized from a transporter while he was trying to escape on a bike from the security cover of BSF at ICP Petrapole. It was subsequently revealed that this gold was smuggled from Bangladesh by concealing inside an import bound truck from Bangladesh. Similar seizure was made on 19th July 2021 when gold worth Rs 1,71,80,420/- was seized here by BSF from an Indian Driver incoming from Bangladesh. In yet another incident, on 21st August 2021, foreign currency (Saudi Riyal) worth Rs 1,68,38,500/- was also seized from an empty Indian truck returning from Bangladesh after unloading export goods. Acting on an intelligence, 50 Kg of Marijuana was seized by troops of BSF from an Indian truck on 09.01.2022 at this ICP. Besides, on regular basis, numerous seizures of illegal items including narcotics are made by troops of BSF deployed at ICP Petrapole. In all these illegal activities, role of Indian transporters, labourers, drivers, helpers and different agents / sub agents etc have been established.
It is also worth mentioning here that sometimes, drivers with fake driving licenses are tends to meet road accidents. Even BSF lost life of one of its Jawan when he was overrun by a truck driver in the month of October, 2021. Therefore, it is necessary that BSF might check the validity of the driving license.
