On July 9, at around 1:30 pm, the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) North West Frontier battalion detained two Indian nationals in the Southern Sub Sector of Eastern Ladakh and confiscated 108.060 kg of gold and Chinese food items, according to ITBP North West Frontier officers.
According to the battalion, on July 9, 2024, at approximately 1:30 or 2:00 PM, the 21st Battalion, ITBP, began Long-Range Patrolling (LRP) in the border areas of the Southern Sub Sector in Eastern Ladakh (generally, Chismule, Narbula top, Zakle, and Zakla) in order to check smuggling and infiltration.
The patrolling team, which included three SOS and seventeen ORs, was led by Sh. Deepak Bhatt, DC/GD, and it was carried out in response to information obtained in the vicinity of Sirigaple, Ladakh.
The party encountered 02 strange individuals with mules about 13:20 hours while traveling to the Sirigaple region, which is located 01 km from IB. After pursuing them, the patrol party led them to the suspects’ camp.
The suspects initially claimed to be gathering therapeutic herbs, but a patrol crew later discovered enormous amounts of gold and other goods. After seizing the materials and suspects, the patrol party headed to Tactical HQRS Koyul. They reported the incident via satellite phone to Sh. Ajay Nirmalkar, Comdt 21 Battalion, ITBP, who directed them for further prewrapped and safe custody of precious metal and suspects.
ITBP founded Chinese food items with Gold
The suspects have been identified as Tsering Chamba, age 69 approx., son of Norbu Dorjee, and Tenzin Targy, age 40, son of Shafel Wangdur.
A number of items were taken into custody, including 108 International Gold Bars weighing a total of 108.060 kg (weighed using an electronic scale at Koyul operated by ITBP), two cell phones, one binocular, and Chinese food items, such as two packets of Lao Beijing, two packets of Fragrant Cake, two packets of Milk Lassi, two knives, two ponies, one Wonder Torch, one hammer, and one nose plier.
It is important to note that the ITBP Act gives it permission to exercise customs authority at the border and to conduct searches and seizures as granted by the MHA and GOI.
The Civil Police, IB, SB, Customs, and ITBP will all question the suspects jointly. Officers from the Custom Department have been tasked with questioning the suspects and the seizure in order to take the necessary legal action.
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