KOLKATA: The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has seized over 20 kg of Ganja (Marijuana) close to the India-Nepal border and has apprehended four persons.
The seizure took place around 11.45 p.m. on Tuesday at the PWD More on NH-327, about four km from the international border.
"Acting on specific intelligence, a special Naka team of ‘E’ Company, Kadomanijote, 41 Bn SSB, intercepted three males and one female. A search of their luggage led to the recovery of 20.175 kg Ganja. They were immediately taken into custody," a senior SSB official said.
All four are residents of West Bengal. They have been identified as Saberul (62), Basir Sk (47), Prasanta Biswas (30), and Manju Mahanta (44).
The first two are residents of Islampur in the Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal. Biswas is from Cooch Behar and the woman is from Kharibari in Darjeeling.
According to officials, the four are members of a gang involved in the trafficking of narcotics.
During preliminary interrogation, they told the authorities that they were on their way to Bhalugara in Islampur from Cooch Behar. They claimed that they had procured the ganja from one Shiv Charan Biswas of Cooch Behar and planned to sell it.
"Their phones have been seized, and call records and messages will be checked to track down other members of the gang. All four, along with the ganja and the phones, have been handed over to the Kharibari Police Station for further legal action under the NDPS Act," the official said.
Narcotics trafficking is a major issue near the India-Nepal border. Miscreants use the route that connects West Bengal to Bihar. There is also cross-border smuggling of narcotics.
The SSB personnel are extremely vigilant as the border is open. Citizens of India and Nepal need no passports or visas to cross the border. Hence, intelligence-based operations are essential to thwart cross-border crimes.
"Criminals from both West Bengal and Bihar also use the area to move contraband between the two states. The National Highway has to be patrolled by the SSB as it is so close to the international border. This is an additional responsibility," the official added.
There are also attempts to transport cattle illegally from Bihar to Assam through West Bengal. From Assam, the cattle are moved to Meghalaya or smuggled across the border to Bangladesh. This is another area of concern for the SSB.
--IANS
