108 kg gold smuggled from China seized near LAC in Ladakh

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, July 10

In a major success, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) arrested two persons with 108 kg of gold that was being smuggled from China in the Nyoma sector. The suspects were arrested in the Sirigaple area close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The ITBP said gold bars weighing 108 kg were seized from the suspects, who have been identified as Tenzin Targy (40) and Tsering Chamba (69), both residents of Hanley.

A patrolling party of the ITBP detected two suspicious persons on mules coming from the LAC side and asked them to stop on the afternoon of July 9. The team became suspicious after questioning them and searched their bags, in which the gold bars were found.

As per an official, a team of the 21 Battalion of ITBP arrested the suspects at 1.30 pm during Long Range Patrolling (LRP) in the border areas of the southern sub-sector in eastern Ladakh. The official added that inputs had been received about the smuggling.

Sources in the Army Intelligence informed that a tip-off was shared with the ITBP by the Army stationed in the area. A team of nearly 20 ITBP jawans was involved in the operation.

An official said the duo was arrested in Sirigaple, which is 1 km away from the LAC. “Initially, the suspects said they were collecting medicinal plants but later, the patrol party found huge quantity of gold and other items in their bags,” he added.

The patrol party took custody of both the suspects, seized the smuggled items and left for tactical headquarters in Koyul.