From Our Correspondent
TURA, Nov 30: Following the revelation of a cartel that was smuggling Burmese betel nuts through the borders of Bangladesh through Garo and Khasi Hills into Assam and beyond, the Achik Youth Welfare Organisation (AYWO) and Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) Southern Zone have broken open another network of smuggling (sugar) into neighbouring Bangladesh through the SGH borders.
The two pressure groups caught a few trucks on November 24 before submitting a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner the next day. The groups found huge numbers of trucks carrying sugar coming through apparently from Guwahati in Assam to be smuggled into neighbouring Bangladesh. The reason for the illegal smuggling is simple – money as sugar costs upwards of Rs 100 per kg in Bangladesh.
Upon intercepting the vehicles near Nongalbibra, parked close to the NH – 62, the group found hundreds of bags of sugar in vehicles which they later took videos of. These later went viral on social media following which the NGO went to Baghmara to register a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner.
“These vehicles come without any valid documents and have continued to flaunt all laws of international trading by smuggling sugar into Bangladesh. What is even more startling is the volume of this trade. Every night and early morning at least 30-40 trucks have been moving through clandestinely,” said AYWO vice president, Sonji Sangma.
The group added that the phenomenon was taking place since the past six months with sugar being brought from Assam and passed into Bangladesh on a daily basis. Apparently none of the trucks caught had valid documents for transportation of sugar, let alone export into another country.
“SGH has a population of over 1.7 lakh but the amount of sugar that is being sent to SGH is more than enough to give sugar problems to the entire population. Some unscrupulous people from Assam along with some residents from here are in the mix. Our state is not gaining anything, instead it is our roads that are taking a hit. There is also a growing concern that this could hit our state in the long run,” added GSMC co-chairman, Lackystone R Sangma.
What is interesting is that these vehicles pass through not one or two but at least 8 police checkpoints along the way without no one having the guts to intercept them.
“If this is not a clear sign of some high flying politicians backing the entire smuggling ring, then nothing is. The price difference is extremely lucrative and it seems they just want to make a quick buck.
This needs to be investigated thoroughly so that these names can come out,” felt Lackystone.
While there is no clear indicator on who could be behind the racket, sources said that the same people behind the betel nut smuggling could also be behind the sugar transport.
“It is not one or two trucks that we are talking of and not one or two places where these acts are taking place, these operations are taking place everywhere near the Bangladesh border in SGH. While the BSF is not looking, these people throw bags into Bangladesh which are then picked up by Bangla nationals,” added Sonji on the modus operandi being used.