Assam Police Foil Major Wildlife Trafficking Attempt

Significant Operation Against Wildlife Trafficking

Guwahati, Nov 7: Assam Police's Special Task Force (STF) has successfully intercepted two suspects linked to the illegal trafficking of endangered wildlife, as reported by officials on Friday.

During this operation, the STF seized various protected species and their body parts from the arrested individuals.

According to a spokesperson from Assam Police, the STF conducted a significant operation targeting wildlife traffickers in the Jakhalabandha region of Nagaon district late Thursday night.

Acting on specific intelligence and with assistance from the Wildlife Crime Control (WCC) authority, the STF initiated their operation in the Kuthori area, which falls under the Jakhalabandha Police Station.

During the operation, the team stopped two suspects riding a Honda Glamour motorcycle near a local playground and confiscated several protected wildlife species and their body parts.

The suspects have been identified as Bidya Singnar (30) and Samson Kathar (29), both hailing from the Rongmongve area in Karbi Anglong district.

Items recovered from them included six Tokay Geckos (locally known as Keko Khap), one live Slow Loris (Lajuki Bandor), 10.630 kilograms of Pangolin scales, a Honda Glamour motorcycle, and two mobile phones with active SIM cards.

Following their arrest, the STF and WCC team transferred the suspects to Jakhalabandha Police Station, where an FIR was filed. Legal actions are being pursued under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, as stated by the police spokesperson.

Initial investigations suggest that the seized wildlife and their parts were intended for illegal trafficking to international markets, where demand for such items is notably high.

Authorities suspect that the protected species and their body parts, including the Pangolin scales, were unlawfully sourced from Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, recognized as India's seventh UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Further investigations are ongoing.