Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

Foresters and the gewog officials in Tading, Samtse arrested a man trying to smuggle 18 cartons of (Rockbee) liquor across the border to Totapara on the early hours of May 11.

The man was also a patrolling volunteer from Tempaling chiwog, Tading.

Tading gewog shares a porous border with the Indian village of Totapara. Due to the Covid-19 risk, Desuups, gewog officials, police and volunteers continuously patrol these border areas.

“After we got the information, we planned for an ambush,” a forest official said, adding that the man and the seized liquor were handed over to the police.

There was another man involved who has also been taken to custody.

The forester said that 19 cartons of Rockbee were smuggled to Totapara by the same man the previous day.

Starting from Tendruk to Tading, Samtse shares a porous border with many Indian towns. Desuups, policemen, gewog officials, villagers and other volunteers monitor the areas round the clock.