BGB Seizes Tk 830cr in Smuggling Crackdown

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) continues its operations to protect the country’s borders, prevent smuggling, curb arms and drug trafficking, and safeguard natural resources. From January 1 to August 10 this year, units under the BGB’s Northeast Region, Sarail, seized drugs and other illegal goods worth approximately Tk 830 crore 48 lakh 89 thousand 477.

The information was disclosed at a media briefing held at around 11:30am on Monday (August 17) in Sreemangal, Moulvibazar. The briefing was organised by Sreemangal Battalion (46 BGB) on behalf of the BGB Northeast Region, Regional Headquarters, Sarail.

At the briefing, Lieutenant Colonel Sarker Asif Mahmud, commanding officer of Sreemangal Battalion (46 BGB), highlighted the BGB’s various activities to prevent smuggling, recover illegal arms, stop unauthorised extraction of sand and stone, and respond to natural disasters.

He said the BGB is working to ensure border security and prevent smuggling across 1,204 kilometres of border under the Sarail Region. The force operates through four sectors, 13 units and 211 Border Observation Posts (BOPs). Alongside regular patrols, special operations are being conducted to prevent the trafficking of drugs, arms, people and other illegal goods.

Lieutenant Colonel Sarker Asif Mahmud said that between January 1 and August 10, 2026, the BGB seized drugs and other illegal goods worth a total of Tk 830 crore 48 lakh 89 thousand 477 through various operations.

He said the BGB has been conducting operations against arms-smuggling syndicates based on intelligence information as part of efforts to strengthen security along the border. Various locally manufactured and foreign-made firearms, ammunition and explosives have been recovered during these operations.

The recovered arms and equipment include four pistols, six air guns, five pipe guns, one one-shooter gun, 40 rounds of ammunition, 18.33 kilograms of high explosives, 117 detonators and 30 metres of detonator wire.

Meanwhile, the BGB is also conducting regular drives against illegal extraction of sand and stone to protect the environmental balance and conserve natural resources. Surveillance and monitoring have been strengthened in these areas in coordination with the local administration.

He said illegal extraction of sand and stone is particularly prevalent in Kalasadek, Guchhagram, Dhulai Bridge, the Piyain River, Ballaghat and Jaflong Bridge areas of the Sylhet region. During operations in these areas, 2,121 cubic feet of sand and 7,465 cubic feet of stone were seized.

At the media briefing, the BGB said it remains committed to protecting the country’s sovereignty, maintaining peace and order along the borders, preventing the smuggling of drugs, arms and ammunition, conserving natural resources, and establishing the rule of law by building a drug-free society.

The BGB said such operations will continue in the future to strengthen border security and prevent illegal activities.

EN/SA