'Biggest' haul of narcotics on border

Indian Border Security Force on Wednesday seized 10 kg cocaine worth Rs 40 crore from an incoming truck along the Petrapole check post in West Bengal.

Officials said this was the biggest ever seizure of drugs along the India-Bangladesh border in terms of monetary value.

The incident took place along the check post in Uttar Chabbis Parganas of West Bengal when a BSF team conducted a special operation there based on some inputs.

Officials yesterday said a truck with a West Bengal registration number was intercepted as soon as it crossed into India from Bangladesh in the evening and a bag containing 10 kgs of suspected narcotics was identified and seized.

They said the BSF members subsequently alerted anti-narcotics sleuths who confirmed the seized item to be cocaine.

This is the biggest haul of drugs in terms of monetary value at this border. The estimated cost of the cache is Rs 40 crore as cocaine of this grade sells Rs 4 crore a kg in the international market, added the officials.

The seized contraband was handed over to Narcotics Control Bureau sleuths who also arrested trucker S Shil, 22, under anti-narcotics laws.