GOVERNMENT OF MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. †*139 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2nd DECEMBER, 2014/AGRAHAYANA 11, 1936 (SAKA)

CROSS BORDER SMUGGLING

†*139. SHRI HUKUM SINGH: SHRI :

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether cases of smuggling of various items viz—fake currencies, drugs, cattle, arms etc. are reported from the international borders, if so, the number of cases reported, smugglers apprehended and the quantum of the said items seized during each of the last three years and the current year, border wise;

(b) the manner in which the seized narcotic drugs are destroyed;

(c) the role of security personnel deployed along the borders in smuggling cases;

(d) whether children are being used as conduit in smuggling across the borders and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the measures taken by the Government to check cross border smuggling and destroy the drug network along the border areas?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the table of the House.

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STATEMENT IN REPLY TO STARRED QUESTION NO.139 FOR ANSWER ON 02.12.2014

(a) The cases of smuggling of various items viz- fake currencies, drugs, cattle, arms etc have been reported along the international borders of the country. The details of cases reported, smugglers apprehended and the quantum of the said items seized during each of the last three years and the current year, border-wise, are enclosed at Annexure – ‘A’.

(b) The seized items are being handed over to the respective State police authorities/concerned law enforcement agencies. The seized narcotic drugs are destroyed through the Drug Disposal Committee as per Notification No. GSR.339(E), dated 10.05.2007 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

(c) The border guarding forces deployed along the international borders regularly carry out various operational activities like patrolling and naka bandi along the border. Checking of persons crossing the border is also being carried out by the forces on random basis or on the basis of inputs received from their intelligence set-up.

(d) No such cases have been reported along any border except for Indo- Bangladesh Border where 12 Nos. of children have been apprehended for smuggling activities during the current year.

(e) Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach for effective domination and to check trans-border crimes including smuggling along the international borders of the country. The steps taken in this regard inter-alia include:

 Effective domination of the border by carrying out round the clock surveillance of the borders by patrolling nakas (border ambushes) and by deploying observation posts all along the international borders of the country. The riverine segments of international borders of the country are being patrolled and dominated with the help of water crafts/speed boats/floating Border Out Posts (BOPs) of Border Security Force (BSF) water wing.

 Construction of fence, patrol roads, floodlighting systems and additional Border Out Posts.

 Introduction of force multipliers and Hi-Tech surveillance equipments. Continuous efforts are made to procure the latest surveillance equipments fully equipped with day and night vision devices for further enhancing the border domination. Cont..2/- -2- L.S.S.Q.No. 130 for 2.12.2014

 Raising the issues of infiltration from across the border during various meetings with counterpart countries i.e. Company Commander Meeting, Commandant Level Meeting, Sector Commander Level Meeting, Frontier Level Meeting and Director General Level Talks.

 Vulnerability mapping of the Border Out Posts (BOPs) which are sensitive with regard to illegal migration/cross border crimes along the Indo-Bangladesh Border have been carried out. These identified BOPs have been strengthened by deploying additional man power, Special Surveillance Equipment, vehicles and other infrastructure support.

 Up-gradation of intelligence network, co-ordination with sister agencies and conduct of special operations along the borders.

 Aerial Recce along the borders is also carried out from time to time.

 15 batallions, designated as border guarding battalions, are deployed all along Indo-Myanmar Border. In addition to these, 17 Border Out Posts(BOPs) of Assam Rifles have been relocated from depth areas closer to the Indo-Myanmar Border recently to further enhance vigil/check smuggling of weapons/narcotic drugs.

*** ANNEXURE-A Details of cases of Smuggling of FICN, drugs, cattle and arms reported, smugglers apprehended and the quantum of the said items seized along the Borders. Border Items 2011 2012 2013 2014(up to October) No. Smuggl Quantity No. Smuggler Quantity No. Smuggler Quantity No. Smuggler Quantity of ers of s of s of s Cases Arrested Cases Arrested Cases Arrested Cases Arrested Indo- FICN 62 - 4486300 60 64 6609900 55 49 9574800 51 44 12951500 Bangladesh (in Rs) Drugs 473 48 8598.75 328 73 3161.017 478 39 8050.849 475 32 13488.46 (in kgs) Cattle 7198 2 135291 11998 285 120724 14926 421 122000 10181 221 89277 (in Nos) Arms 29 16 45 29 33 38 32 25 46 33 51 55 (in Nos) Indo- FICN 10 - 4445500 9 - 6041500 8 2 5700500 4 1 1093000 (in Rs) Drugs 12 2 74.797 43 30 320.695 38 6 331.585 43 5 334.327 (in kgs) Cattle ------(in Nos) Arms 10 10 16 14 10 23 14 10 32 16 4 21 (in Nos) Indo-Nepal FICN 02 01 74500 03 05 149500 12 15 1373600 12 10 533700 (in Rs) Drugs 265 162 12407.28 201 118 10616.19 217 143 8298.54 166 185 1073.88 (in kgs) Cattle 209 75 2903 133 74 2155 137 116 2126 306 99 3198 (in Nos) Arms 07 03 07 12 14 17 32 48 85 46 63 59 (in Nos) Indo-Bhutan FICN 02 03 313000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (in Rs) Drugs 10 09 710 05 03 602.98 09 0 648.15 15 17 1430.64 (in kgs) Cattle 01 01 14 02 0 31 03 05 37 08 51 109 (in Nos) Arms 08 08 09 04 01 08 17 07 23 31 28 51 (in Nos) Indo-China FICN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (in Rs) Drugs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (in kgs) Cattle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (in Nos) Arms 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (in Nos) Indo-Myanmar FICN 129 177 5000 10 44 18500 107 158 766000 62 84 220 (in Rs) Drugs 52 89 2801.03 30 36 2441.83 46 82 584.76 25 36 182.21 (in kgs)

Cattle 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (in Nos) Arms 06 10 140 12 23 209 23 28 250 06 08 169 (in Nos)