West Bengal: BSF nabs Bangladeshi smuggler in Nadia

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday (November 12) caught a Bangladeshi smuggler with 17 exotic birds in the Bhimpur police station area of Nadia.   

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Thursday (November 12) nabbed a Bangladeshi smuggler with 17 exotic birds in the Bhimpur police station area of Nadia.

The birds, packed in three cages, were later identified as Toucan Vectors, Aracari Toucan Vectors, and Poicephalus Cryptoxanthus. All of them fetch a hefty price in the underground wildlife markets in cities like Kolkata.

A senior BSF official said, “When we were patrolling the Indo-Bangladesh border during night, we noticed a scuffle at a nearby village and rushed there. In the village, we found that the locals had cornered a Bangladeshi national with the three cages of birds. We immediately caught the man.”

“The smuggler was later identified as Azmat Musarif, of the Kullu Jugirpara village in the Chaudanga district of Bangladesh. During interrogation, Musarif said that he had crossed the border along with Dolu of Kapashdanga. Dolu was apparently the owner of these birds. The owner escaped before we reached the village,” he added.

Musarif further claimed that he was merely a courier and the consignment was to be delivered to a man named Gopal Baag of Bhimpur. He was to receive Rs 5,000 for his efforts. 

After hearing about this incident, wildlife enthusiasts have sought stronger laws to curb smuggling of such species across international borders.