A customs official, who received death threats from members of a smuggling syndicate, lodged a general diary (GD) with local police station seeking security. Deputy Commissioner of Benapole Customs House, Md Abdul Quaiyum lodged the GD with Benapole Port Police Station on Sunday night. Mohamamd Azizur Rahman, Commissioner of Benapole Customs, said “The passengers did not face any trouble but allegations were found from those who brought smuggled goods dodging tax as they failed to bring their goods due to a strict monitoring system. Also read: Omicron surge in India slams travel through Benapole land port Benapole is a safe route for smugglers as they illegally bring goods worth Tk several lakh in luggage and hence they are called “luggage party.” After taking charge joint Commissioner Abdur Rashid seized smuggled goods worth over Tk one crore and realized Tk 20 lakh as revenue tax, which made the smugglers angry, he said. Quaiyum said Indian smugglers come with business visa and sold their goods in Benapole before returning home. Also read: Trade through Benapole land port suspended The syndicate also carried out attacks on some customs officials who seized their goods, causing immense sufferings to the travellers who use the route.

Rapid Action Battalion has arrested two members of a smuggling syndicate with 18 deer hides from Bagerhat. The arrest was made during a raid at Kashem Plaza Market in Barakpur Bazar of Bagerhat Sadar on Thursday night. Read: 4 ‘deer poachers’ held in Sundarbans The arrestees are Abdul Hakim, 50, son of Rafiz Uddin of Baharbunia village in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat and Kamrul Islam, 35, son of Ali Mia Hawladar of Sonatala village in Sharankhola upazila. According to RAB, they are members of a syndicate of deer meat and hide smugglers. Two smartphones, Tk 2,000 cash and 18 deer hides were seized at from the smugglers, said a RAB-6 media release on Friday Khulna RAB-6 Assistant Director (Media) ASP Bazlur Rashid said that the RAB on a tipoff trading deer hides, raided the market. Sensing the presence of the RAB, the members of the syndicate tried to flee. However, RAB team managed to arrest the two smugglers and found 18 deer hides in two large plastic bags, he said. The ASP further said that the smugglers over primary interrogation admitted that they used to collect deer hides and meat from the Sundarbans and sell it in different parts of the country. The two smugglers, including deer hides, have been handed over to Bagerhat Sadar Model Police Station for legal action, he added. Read: Father-son arrested with deer meat in Bagerhat Earlier on January 23 this year, Bagerhat district police raided Sharankhola and arrested two poachers with 19 deer hides. Deer hunting has increased in the Sundarbans since the time of the Covid pandemic. Poachers use traps and poison baits to hunt deer. Slaughtering those inside the forest they sell the meat at the locality and the hides are smuggled.

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested 224 alleged smugglers in connection with seizing smuggled goods, including drugs and firearms worth Tk 48.14 crore from across the country last month.