Tk 38.57 cr worth of snake venom seized in Dinajpur, 4 arrested

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized approximately 5.7 kilograms of snake venom worth an estimated Tk 38.57 crore in Chirirbandar, Dinajpur. Four people have been arrested in connection with the seizure.

The information was disclosed in a statement issued by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at around 8:00 PM on Friday (August 21).

Acting on a tip-ff, a joint team comprising members of Dinajpur Battalion (42 BGB), the BGB Dinajpur Camp, RAB-13 and an executive magistrate conducted an operation in the Ambari area of Chirirbandar Upazila at around 1:30 PM on August 13. 

The team recovered approximately 5.7 kilograms of suspected snake venom from three glass jars. A private car, two motorcycles, four mobile phones and six SIM cards were also seized.

The arrestee were identified as Md Jahangir Alam, 43, of Damur village in Chirirbandar; Md Salauddin Sanju, 41, of Chhoto Gurgola area in Dinajpur city; Md Anisur Rahman, 55, of Khetadighi village in Phulbari Upazila; and Ujjal Ali, 54, of Kundan Hat village in Birampur Upazila.

The BGB said, "during preliminary interrogation, the detainees admitted to being members of an organized international smuggling syndicate. They reportedly disclosed that they had previously smuggled snake venom to a neighboring country on several occasions. According to the BGB, the seized venom was also being transported for smuggling abroad.

A case was filed against the arrested individuals, and they were handed over to Chirirbandar Police Station in Dinajpur. After police produced them before the court, the judge sent them to jail custody.

Later, following a court order, a chemical test of the recovered sample was conducted at the laboratory of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University on August 19. The BGB said the test confirmed that the sample was snake venom.

Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Al Moin Hasan, commander of Dinajpur Battalion (42 BGB), confirmed the seizure. He said, "there was a delay in providing information because the authorities first conducted tests and verification before filing the case."

-MT