Border Guard Bangladesh and Rapid Action Battalion personnel seized about 5.7 kilograms of snake venom valued at Tk385.7 million in Ambari, Chirirbandar upazila of Dinajpur, and detained four people, according to a 42 BGB statement released on Friday evening. The joint team conducted the operation on August 13 after receiving intelligence, with an executive magistrate participating.

Officials said the venom was found in three glass jars. The operation also recovered a private car, two motorcycles, four mobile phones and six SIM cards. Those detained were identified as Md Jahangir Alam, Md Salauddin Sanju, Md Anisur Rahman and Ujjal Ali, all from Dinajpur district.

During initial questioning, the detainees were found to be members of an organised international smuggling network, officials said. They had allegedly smuggled snake venom to a neighbouring country on earlier occasions, and the seized material was allegedly being transported for export abroad. Chemical testing of samples at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University on August 19, under a court order, identified the substance as snake venom. The detainees and seized items were handed to Chirirbandar police station for legal action.