Mahidul Islam Ripon, Dinajpur

BGB and RAB members have recovered snake venom worth Tk 38.57 crore from Ambari in Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur. Four people have been arrested during the operation.

Dinajpur 42 BGB commander Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Al Moin Hasan gave this information in a press release at 6 pm on Friday.

The arrested are: Md. Jahangir Alam (43), son of Moklesur Haque of Damur village in Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur; Md. Salauddin Sanju (41), son of the late AKM Shahidul Islam of Chhota Gurgola village in Dinajpur Sadar upazila; Md. Anisur Rahman (55), son of the late Abdul Majid of Te Dekh village in Phulbari upazila; and Ujjal Ali (54), son of the late Mubarak of Krindanhat village in Birampur upazila.

The 42 BGB commander said that on the afternoon of August 13, based on a secret tip-off, a joint operation team consisting of Dinajpur 42 BGB, RAB 13 Dinajpur Camp and the Executive Magistrate conducted an operation in the Ambari area of Chirirbandar upazila of the district. Four people were arrested in the operation. At that time, a total of approximately 5 kg 700 grams of snake venom in 3 glass jars, 1 private car, 2 motorcycles, 4 mobile phones and 6 SIM cards were recovered from them. During the initial interrogation of the arrested persons, it was learned that they are members of an organized international smuggling ring. They have previously smuggled snake venom to neighboring countries at different times. It is initially known that the recovered snake venom was also being transported for smuggling abroad. The total Caesar value of the recovered snake venom, private cars, motorcycles and other goods is Tk 38 crore 57 lakh. After the raid, the arrested persons along with the recovered goods were handed over to Chirirbandar Police Station in Dinajpur district for legal action.

Later, as per the court's instructions, chemical testing of the recovered sample was completed at the laboratory of Haji Mohammad Danesh University of Science and Technology on August 19. The test results identified the sample as snake venom.

Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Al Moin Hasan, commander of Dinajpur Battalion (42 BGB), said, "BGB is always alert and proactive to prevent the smuggling of any illegal goods, including highly valuable resources and wildlife products.