Rs 60 Lakh for a Lizard! Assam Police Bust Rare Wildlife Smuggling Ring, 3 Arrested
First Published: 12th April, 2025 13:42 IST
The police revealed that the trio attempted to smuggle the geckos to meet rising demand in Southeast Asia’s grey market.
In a major crackdown on wildlife trafficking, the Assam Police in Dibrugarh rescued 11 rare tokay gecko lizards and arrested three smugglers on Friday.
The accused, identified as Debashis Dohutia (34), Manash Dohutia (28), and Dipankar Gharphalia (40), had reportedly brought the endangered reptiles from Arunachal Pradesh and planned to sell each for a staggering Rs 60 lakh.
Acting on a tip-off, a Special Task Force (STF) team was formed to intercept the illegal operation. The police revealed that the trio attempted to smuggle the geckos to meet rising demand in Southeast Asia’s grey market.
Tokay geckos are listed as highly endangered under the Wildlife Protection Act, of 1972, making their trade illegal. If convicted, the smugglers face up to seven years of rigorous imprisonment.
These reptiles are native to only a few regions in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Due to myths about their medicinal value, tokay geckos are highly prized in illegal markets.
Taking to social media platform X, Assam Police wrote, “₹60 lakhs + for a lizard? Not on our watch,” confirming the arrests and seizure of vehicles. The rescued geckos will be released back into their natural habitat.
Also Read: Assam remains peaceful amid protests against Waqf Amendment Act: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma
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