On June 7, 2023, the Meghalaya Frontier Border Security Force (BSF) announced that it had intercepted and seized 11 vehicles loaded with over 11,000 kg of sugar meant to be smuggled into Bangladesh. According to the press release, the alert 04 Bn BSF Meghalaya troops apprehended 11 Indian nationals during the nighttime operation on June 6, 2023.
The BSF, deployed in the Muktapur area, intercepted the vehicles as they were transporting the illicit sugar cargo from Amlarem to a bordering region. The apprehended individuals were unable to provide valid documentation or satisfactory explanations for the consignment, leading the BSF to confiscate the vehicles and hand them over to the Customs office in Dawki for further action.
The Meghalaya Frontier BSF has seized more than 300,000 kg of sugar en route to Bangladesh since October 2022. The increase in sugar smuggling is attributed to the rising demand for Indian sugar in Bangladesh and the subsequent hike in prices.
