‘The Border Security Force (BSF) has seized gold worth nearly Rs 1.02 crore along the India-Bangladesh border in Malda district, West Bengal. Officials shared this information on Thursday. The BSF found the gold hidden in a very unusual place, inside the tyre of a bicycle.

According to a senior officer from the BSF’s South Bengal Frontier, the troops of the 119 Battalion, posted at the M.S. Pur Border Outpost, had received a tip-off that someone might try to smuggle gold from Bangladesh into India. After getting this information, the BSF increased surveillance in the area and kept a close watch on all movement near the border.

Around 2:56 p.m., the soldiers noticed a man moving suspiciously towards the border with a bicycle. They immediately stopped him for checking. While inspecting the bicycle, they noticed that the front tyre looked swollen and very hard, which did not seem normal. This made the troops suspicious, and they decided to remove the tyre and check it carefully.

When they opened it, they discovered seven gold biscuits hidden inside. While the BSF jawans were busy examining the bicycle and removing the tyre, the smuggler took advantage of the moment and ran away towards a crowded area. The BSF could not take immediate action because firing or chasing him inside a densely populated area might have caused harm to civilians.

The seized gold was brought back to the border outpost and properly weighed. The gold biscuits together weighed 816.41 grams, and their market value was estimated to be Rs 1,02,40,230. After this, the BSF carried out a search operation in the nearby villages and surrounding areas, but they were unable to find the smuggler.

The gold has now been handed over to the appropriate government agency for further legal investigation. The BSF official praised the jawans and said they remain alert and committed to stopping illegal activities such as gold smuggling along the border.

He also urged people living in border areas to share any information about smuggling attempts. They can contact the BSF through the Seema Sathi helpline 14419 or send a WhatsApp message or voice note to 9903472227. He assured that informants will receive rewards for reliable information, and their identity will always be kept confidential.