Operation Illegals: How entrenched criminal networks profit from smuggling, infiltration

In the second part of Operation Illegal, the India Today team shows how porous stretches and lax security along Indo-Bangladesh in Cooch Behar have turned infiltration into a thriving business. Here we dig deeper to expose the individuals and systems fueling this crisis. From vendors who openly brag about their infiltration exploits to profiteering agents human trafficking and smuggling, the findings paint a grim picture of national security vulnerabilities.

Read the first part of Operation Illegal Here

Our journey began in West Bengal’s Dinhata-1 block along the ever-moving Dharla River. Security here is as fluid as the river itself. The BSF checkpoint, a makeshift thatched hut, is a temporary solution in a terrain that defies permanent installations. To access this area, our team had to surrender Aadhaar cards as security deposits before crossing the river.

On the boat ride, I met a tout who proudly admitted that he makes a living from illegal crossings. Speaking with an air of defiance, he recounted the years he helped people cross into Bangladesh and return without fear of consequence. He openly discussed how foggy nights provided ideal cover for these operations, making it almost impossible for the BSF to detect their movements.

On the other side of the river is an Indian village that functions as if it were in Bangladesh. Dependence on Bangladeshi commodities is widespread and transactions are mainly conducted in Bangladeshi taka. The blurred lines between the two nations are evident in every aspect of life here.

It all led us to a point where the transition to Bangladesh was remarkably simple. He pointed to the absence of guards on both sides of the border, saying: “You’ll never see them.” This lack of enforcement encourages infiltrators and facilitates a steady flow of workers from Bangladesh into India. These laborers earn wages in takas during the day and return home at nightfall, avoiding BSF patrols, avoiding their routes and not making eye contact.

We also discovered the ingenuity behind infiltrations into the fenced portions of the border. Another promoter demonstrated how wooden planks are used to cut small holes in the wire. With these tools, people can switch from one side to the other in just minutes. Observers stationed on both sides keep an eye on patrol movements, waiting for the right moment to initiate crossings. According to tout, election seasons are particularly favorable for their operations as the BSF presence is reduced, leaving vast stretches of the border lightly guarded.

Infiltration does not stop at the border. Agents play a crucial role in helping infiltrators settle in Indian cities away from the border region. These agents organize fake documents and jobs, creating new identities for those crossing illegally. One agent boasted of his involvement, claiming to have helped establish entire infiltrator settlements in the area.

The networks that facilitate human infiltration are also deeply involved in the smuggling of cattle, drugs, gold and other contraband. According to BSF sources, illegal activities in Dinhata alone generate around 80 lei every day. For each individual smuggled across the border, traffickers pocket between 10,000 and 15,000 lei, fueling the greed that drives this dangerous enterprise.

What we discovered in Dinhata highlights the scale of the challenge on the Indo-Bangladesh border. Porous stretches, daring smuggling operations and deep-rooted networks have turned this region into a haven for illegal activities. Without urgent and comprehensive measures to strengthen border security, these vulnerabilities will continue to pose a serious threat to India’s national security.