BSF successfully curbed smuggling across borders: Centre

New Delhi: The Union government submitted at Lok Sabha on Tuesday that the Border Security Force (BSF) successfully curbed the smuggling of drugs and other contraband items after territorial jurisdiction extension along India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders, PTI reported.

Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai stated that the BSF's territorial jurisdiction extension was aimed at empowering the paramilitary force to discharge its duties more effectively.

The minister told the LS that the move helped in detecting and dismantlings drones and unmanned areal vehicles- generally having long-range- flew across the borders by anti-national forces for smuggling arms, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes as well for surveillance.

In a written reply to a question, the minister said, "Due to increased territorial jurisdiction, the BSF has achieved success in curbing smuggling of drugs and other contraband items."

Further, the minister produced a list of items seized by the BSF after the implementation of the jurisdiction extension. They include Pakistani drones, a large number of arms, ammunition and drugs.

The Centre implemented the extension of the jurisdiction in October 2021. It gave the BSF powers of arrest, search, and seizure to the extent of 50 km against the 15 km- in Punjab, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura- from borders earlier. Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, which rules West Bengal, had criticised the Centre's decision. The BSF has been authorised to take action under CrPC, Passport Act and Passport.