Nadia: Following recovery of bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup from four underground bunkers in West Bengal's Nadia district, a thorough inspection was conducted by the teams of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) after visiting the spot on Sunday.
The owner of the plot from where one of the bunkers was recovered and those involved in the smuggling racket are yet to be nabbed, officials said adding that an investigation is underway to unearth the racket.
Acting on a tip-off on Friday, BSF launched a search operation in the Majdia area under Krishnaganj police station in Nadia and recovered three underground storage tanks. Upon opening, cough syrup bottles worth several lakhs of rupees were found inside the bunkers.
Then on Saturday, the BSF recovered another huge underground bunker from the same area. After which, BSF handed over the case to the NCB. Questions, however, have been raised as to how the bunkers were found in this area. A probe is underway, officials said.
The incident has left the locals panic-stricken. According to sources, smugglers had been building a house on this plot and used to hold liquor parties here. A bunker was recovered from this under-construction house. The land owner, however, is absconding. The BSF and NCB teams are likely to present the recovered cough syrup bottles in court on Monday.
The border forces received information about presence of iron bunkers under the garden. After this, jawans of the 32nd Battalion of the BSF South Bengal conducted a raid along the India-Bangladesh border. During the searches, three iron bunkers were recovered from garden in front of the Sudhir Ranjan Lahiri College in Krishnaganj in Nadia.
According to a statement issued by the BSF, a total of 62,200 bottles of Phensedyl were recovered worth Rs 1,40,58,444. "The seizure has exposed the depth of the smuggling network active in the area and their modus operandi. The seized consignment of Phensedyl has been handed over to the concerned department for further legal action," it stated.
Lauding the operation, spokesperson of BSF South Bengal Border said this success is a testament to the vigilance, courage and commitment of the BSF personnel. More information is being collected about this complex network of smugglers which will reveal more information, he added.
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