Kolkata, 2 September (H.S.) -In a major breakthrough against cross-border smuggling, Raninagar police seized 10 gold biscuits weighing 1,166.7 grams near the Rajanagar Kali Temple on Monday night. Two suspects — Shibnath Mondal and Lalan Mondal — were arrested at the spot, and a motorcycle was also confiscated.

According to police sources, the gold consignment, valued at nearly ₹1 crore, was allegedly smuggled from Bangladesh into India. Investigators suspect that the precious metal was meant to be circulated within the country through an organized trafficking network.

The accused have been booked under relevant sections of law and will be produced before the Lalbagh Ld. ACJM Court on Tuesday, where police are seeking 10 days’ custody for further interrogation.

Authorities believe the racket is part of a wider international gold smuggling syndicate. Police are probing how long the network has been operational, the exact routes used to transport the gold from Bangladesh, and the identities of others involved.

Investigators are also analyzing mobile phones recovered from the suspects to trace wider links. Officials noted that increasing incidents of gold smuggling across the India–Bangladesh border have become a matter of serious concern. Only 24 hours earlier, the BSF had recovered another large consignment of gold from a bordering area.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh