Record seizure of contraband near Punjab border in 2014: BSF data

There has been a record seizure of narcotics, especially heroin and opium, in 2014 compared with 2013 at the porous border in Punjab, Border Security Force (BSF) data show.

Enhanced vigil by BSF troops has thwarted attempts of smugglers and anti-national elements. The Border Security Force seized heroin, fake Indian currency notes, opium and arms & ammunition, among others, during this period.

According to BSF data, heroin and opium are the most smuggled items via this border. In 2014 (till December 28), around 361 kg of heroin was seized on the Punjab border, while it seized 322 kg in 2013 (as on December 28).

Opium weighing around 963 g was seized in 2014, against 443 g in 2013. Fake Indian currency worth Rs 52.04 lakh was seized in 2013, against Rs 11.83 lakh in 2014.

The 550-km porous border, which Punjab shares with Pakistan, continues to be the most sought-after by smugglers. Keeping in view the vulnerability, especially in view of crops and foggy weather that give cover, Anil Paliwal, Inspector General, BSF Punjab Frontier, said, He has issued operational guidelines to further strengthen border domination to effectively check the menace of narcotics smuggling and activities of anti-national elements.

Further tactical operations are being mounted to foil the attempts of smugglers during the season.

There is a huge demand of narcotics among the youths which has led to spurt in smuggling activity.

According to BSF officials, the locals and farmers who live along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab is an easy target for the Pakistani smugglers who keep using them as conduit to push the contraband across the border. Farmers are also lured into this trade due to windfall gains and to make quick back.

In addition to this, heroin seizures increased to 570 kg in 2014 by the Punjab Police, against 100 kg seizure in 2011. Besides this, the number of arrests under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988, have also increased manifold. During the special drive launched by the Punjab Police on directions of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, since May 2014 as many as 10,213 FIRs were registered and 11,755 people were arrested.