Amritsar, Apr 24 (IANS): Alert troopers of the Border Security Force (BSF) have seized a consignment of 12 kg of heroin from the Amritsar sector of the international border between India and Pakistan, BSF officials said here Tuesday.

The attempt by smugglers to push the heroin consignment into Indian territory was foiled by BSF troopers in Fatehpur, 30 km from here.

The attempt was thwarted late Monday night.

A BSF official said here that the consignment was seized after the troopers had a brief exchange of fire with the smugglers. The smugglers were able to escape under the cover of darkness.

The seized drugs consignment is worth crores of rupees in the international market.

BSF officials said that nearly 150 kg of heroin consignment has been seized by the BSF in various operations along the international border this year itself. Fake Indian currency notes with the face value of nearly Rs.20 lakh were also recovered during operations.