STF Foils Arms Smuggling Attempt Near Kolkata Airport, Arrests Four with Cache of Illegal Weapons

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, May 10, 2025, Kolkata :In a significant breakthrough against illegal arms trafficking, the Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police arrested four individuals and seized a large cache of weapons during a late-night operation on April 10 in Narayanpur, Haroa in North 24 Pargana within northern suburbs near Kolkata Airport. Acting on specific intelligence, the STF intercepted a white Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire suspected of transporting illegal firearms in the Narayanpur-Haroa belt of North 24 Parganas district.

The operation, executed swiftly and without resistance, led to the arrest of four suspects identified as Amirul Mondal (33), Habil Mollah (40), Abu Sahid Gazi (26), and Giyasuddin Gazi (24)—all residents of Haroa. According to officials, the accused were en route to deliver the weapons to criminal groups in the region.

A thorough search of the vehicle revealed a concealed bag containing a substantial cache of arms. The recovered items include a single-barrel long firearm, a double-barrel breech-loading (DBBL) gun, and an improvised 7 mm semi-automatic pistol, along with two empty magazines. Additionally, authorities seized six rounds of 12 bore live ammunition and eleven rounds of 7.65 mm ammunition.

Investigators suspect that the seized weapons may have originated from Munger, Bihar—a region known for the illicit manufacture of firearms. The car and all recovered items have been seized as evidence, and a formal case has been registered at Haroa Police Station. Preliminary interrogation suggests the accused may be part of a wider trafficking network operating across district and state boundaries.

The STF, in coordination with district police, is now conducting follow-up operations to trace the full extent of the arms network, including suppliers and intended recipients. Officials have also stepped up surveillance efforts in high-risk areas and intensified intelligence gathering to prevent further attempts at arms smuggling.

This successful operation reflects the increasing vigilance of security agencies in West Bengal and their commitment to curbing the proliferation of illegal weapons in the state.