Two men were apprehended by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) near the China border in Ladakh, where they were found in possession of 108 gold bars valued at nearly Rs 70 crore. The operation took place at an altitude of 18,000 feet in Southern Eastern Ladakh, near Chismule, Narbula Top, Zakle, and Zakla, areas prone to infiltration and smuggling during the summer months.
The ITBP launched a Long Range Patrolling mission on July 9, discovering the suspects near Sirigaple, approximately 1 km from the Indo-China border. Initially claiming to be collecting medicinal plants, the men, identified as Tenzin Targy (40) and Tsering Chamba (69), were found with gold bars, each weighing 1 kg. Upon their arrest, the patrol team also seized mobile phones, binoculars, Chinese food items, knives, and tools from them.
Ajay Nirmalkar, Commandant of the 21st Battalion, ITBP, coordinated the operation via satellite phone due to the challenging conditions of high altitude and rough terrain. The ITBP, acting under authorization from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, acted promptly to secure the suspects and the confiscated gold, subsequently handing them over to customs officials.
Further investigations involving multiple agencies are underway to uncover details about the smuggling network and the individuals involved.
