India-Bangladesh hawala racket: STF of Assam Police reveals role of supari smugglers

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The STP (Special Task Force) of the Assam Police found the involvement of supari traders active in the smuggling of supari between India and Bangladesh, carrying out transactions through a hawala racket.

Acting on a tip-off on an illegal consignment of foreign-origin supari in Goalpara, an STF team launched an operation recently. The STF team headed for Goalpara from Guwahati.

During the search operation, they apprehended two persons involved in illegal trades of supari (betel nut): Mohibul Alam (35) of Matia and Saber Ali (39) of Bohoti Mayapara, both from the Golapara district, from their respective houses on the intervening nights of November 14 and 15.

During the spot interrogation and search operation, it came to light that the apprehended persons are involved in money laundering with Bangladeshi businessmen via cash transactions and via payment through suspected bogus Indian bank accounts. The modus operandi of the module is found to be involved with many middlemen across the India-Bangladesh international border. It has been found that traders involved in the illegal smuggling of Supari from Bangladesh to India mostly carry out transactions through hawala.

The STF registered a case (No 13/23 u/s 120(B)/418/420/468/121(A) IPC) in this connection. Investigation is going on.

Also Read:    Assam Police Extortion Case: CID Grilling Supari Trader Sahidul Islam

Also Watch: