BSF troops posted on the Meghalaya frontier seized cattle and contraband items valued at more than Rs 3.2 crore last week and arrested 33 miscreants allegedly involved in trans-border crimes.

A BSF official on Monday said 835 head of cattle, 26,500kg of onion, Yaba tablets and ganja were seized along the international border with Bangladesh last week.

“With increase in cattle smuggling, especially in East Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills, the BSF has intensified vigil along the international border to curb the menace. Trucks loaded with cattle are transported undetected up to the international border in Meghalaya from different states of India,” he said. It is a matter of concern that a large number of trucks loaded with cattle are transported from Assam on a daily basis for smuggling into Bangladesh, he added.

“Cattle smuggling is the root cause of all trans-border crimes but despite the BSF’s continuous efforts, it is a big challenge to completely halt cattle smuggling from India into Bangladesh,” he said.