Rajesh Rai | Phuentsholing

Police has detained the Sangachholing gewog administrative officer (GAO) for allegedly trying to smuggle out 20 cartons of Bhutan Whisky liquor on the night of April 11.

Police on duty at Tashichholing arrested the 35-year-old GAO at around 11:25pm near Ratan Workshop at Jitti border in his Santro car. The liquor has been seized.

He was initially detained at Tashichholing police custody but later handed over to Norbugang police, Kuensel learned.

Sangachholing gup Kalyan Pradhan said the GAO was not on his night duty that day.

“We don’t know exact details,” he said, adding that duty police team had arrested him.

Gup Kalyan Pradhan said gewog officials and local people also continuously volunteer in patrolling the border areas in the gewog.

Samtse has a porous border and remains a huge challenge in patrolling. In some areas, it is even difficult to differentiate Bhutan-India border as settlements are so close along the border.

In the battle to prevent Covid-19, more than 60 points of entries, including the four official points are currently manned, an increase from 44 initial such entry points.

Desuups, forestry and gewog officials and the local residents help police in patrolling these entry points.

Advertisement