Assam Police Seize Rare Tokay Geckos in Major Smuggling Bust

Guwahati: Assam police successfully intercepted a major wildlife trafficking attempt in Guwahati, recovering 26 rare Tokay geckos and arresting two suspects. The Gorchuk Police launched the late-night operation after receiving intelligence about the illegal movement of the protected species.

Officers stopped a motorcycle near the Basistha area, finding the animals hidden inside bamboo tubes. The two men in custody, identified as Ikramul Hussain from Nagaon and Jamiruddin from Barpeta, allegedly transported the geckos from Karbi Anglong. Authorities believe the suspects intended to move the animals out of the state via the ISBT terminal.

The seized geckos have a combined market value of approximately Rs 3 crore, with individual animals fetching over Rs 10 lakh on the black market. Trafficking protected wildlife is a serious criminal offense, and investigators are now looking into the possibility of a wider network behind the smuggling ring.

The rescued animals have been transferred to the state forest department for professional care and processing. Officials stated that the investigation remains ongoing to ensure all parties involved in the illicit trade are held accountable.