SHILLONG: BSF troops from the LCS post at Cheragaon in South West Khasi Hills District apprehended a trucker while he was returning from Bangladesh after unloading coal and recovered over Rs 39 thousand from his possession to indicate that hawala business is a reality when it comes to trade operations along the Indo-Bangla boder.
The truck driver Klostar Sangma confessed that the money was a return for excess coal being carried to Bangladesh by the exporter.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, BSF PRO MahendraSingh rued the fact that absence of weighbridges along the border gives rise to such unlawful activities.
“When we get any information about such a case we immediately conduct checkings,” Singh added.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Customs (Preventive), North East Region, G Panmei said that the customs have volumetric system of measurement to ascertain the amount of coal that passes through the border per truck.
Panmei, however, admitted that it is not a fool proof system and the customs officials usually depend on the self assessment and declaration of the exporter.
Acoording to Panmei, an exporter can be detained for giving a wrong declaration.
“Based on specific evidence, customs also conduct random checking of the trucks,” he said.