In a major wildlife crime bust, the Assam Police’s Special Task Force (STF) arrested three individuals on Thursday for allegedly smuggling 11 endangered Tokay Gecko lizards, each reportedly worth ₹60 lakh or more in the international black market.
The accused — Debashis Dohutia (34) and Manash Dohutia (28) of Tinsukia district, and Dipankar Gharphalia (40) of Dibrugarh — were apprehended at a roadside eatery in Mohanbari Tiniali, Dibrugarh. Acting on a tip-off about the smuggling of protected species from Arunachal Pradesh to Assam, the STF team launched a special operation, intercepting a car and a motorcycle linked to the suspects.
STF Inspector Kamalesh Singh confirmed that the trio was about to finalize an illegal deal when they were caught. “We had information that they were carrying endangered species. The operation led by DSP Satyendra Singh Hazari allowed us to intercept the vehicle in time,” Singh said.
Inside the vehicle, officials discovered red-colored backpack bags containing 11 Tokay Geckos — a rare and highly protected reptile species under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The Wildlife Justice Commission’s South Asia Office verified the identity of the lizards in the presence of the STF team.
While the smugglers allegedly claimed they were striking a deal for ₹1 lakh per lizard, wildlife authorities pointed out that the market value abroad can soar to ₹60 lakh or more. “In certain countries, Tokay Geckos are used for questionable medicinal practices, which fuels illegal trade,” a senior police official stated.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Dibrugarh, BV Sandeep, confirmed that the lizards are currently under examination by experts from the Zoological Department. “Once the identification process is complete, we will release them back to their natural habitats. Since these are live endangered species, strict protocols are followed,” he said.
Tokay Geckos are native to parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam and are one of India’s most strictly protected wildlife species. Under Indian law, smuggling or harming these lizards can result in imprisonment of up to seven years.
Authorities have initiated further investigation into the smuggling network and are tracing potential links to wildlife trafficking syndicates.
Sources By Agencies
