DHAKA, July 24, 2025 (BSS) – Paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces today said they arrested over 4,350 foreigners, mostly Myanmar nationals, while its vigil in frontiers and inside the country resulted in seizure of contraband items of over Taka 800 crore in the past six months.

   A BGB spokesman said their troops arrested 4305 Myanmar nationals and 45 Indians on trespass charges in the six months when they also detained 2196 Bangladeshis during their attempts to cross the border illegally. 

   The official said the illegally imported or contraband items they seized included gold, bronze, silver, sarees, cosmetics, jewelry, touchstone-made statues, snake venom, turtle bones, fireworks, sugar, cigarette, drugs, motor vehicles, motorbikes, bicycles and illegal weapons.

   “During this period, the BGB arrested 916 people over their alleged involvement in smuggling of goods and drug trafficking,” the official said adding punitive legal actions were initiated simultaneously against the accused. 

   He said considering the overall security of the country, the BGB personnel intensified their frontier vigil through intense patrols in border areas.

  He said the border guards during the past six months also pushed back 4305 Myanmar nationals to their homeland after their brief detention on infiltration charges.

   “The BGB personnel at the same time played a crucial role in maintaining law and order inside the country as well,” said the official preferring anonymity.

   In June this year alone, BGB seized various types of smuggled goods worth of Taka 136.9 crore and arrested 197 people on charges of smuggling from border areas. 
   
   In May, the BGB seized illegal goods worth of Taka 133.11 crore and arrested 145 on charges of drug trafficking and smuggling of other goods.
   
   In April, the BGB seized smuggled goods worth of Taka 101.38 crore and arrested 143 smugglersfrom frontiers and various other places. 
   
   The BGB sources said that 143 smugglers were arrested for their involvement in various types of drugs including yaba and other smuggling during the operation.

    In March this year, the BGB was able to seize various types of smuggled goods worth 152.08 crore and arrest 134 people on smuggling charges.
   
   A large number of smuggled goods were seized and weapons were recovered during the operation. 
   
   “The recovered weapons include rifles, domestically made pistols, guns, cocktails, petrol bombs,” the official said.
   
   In February, smuggled goods were seized worth of Taka 170.18 crore from various places including the border areas of the country.
   
   The BGB also arrested 134 smugglers on charges of involvement in various types of drug trafficking including yaba.
   
   In January in this year, illegal and smuggled goods were seized worth of Taka 162.52 crore and arrested 163 people on charges of their involvement in smuggling activities.