Wildlife smuggling foiled: Guwahati Police rescue 26 live Geckos hidden in bamboo tubes, 2 arrested
Guwahati, May 24
In a breakthrough against wildlife trafficking, the Guwahati city police foiled a smuggling attempt, rescuing 26 live geckos and arresting two individuals in the Betkuchi area under the Gorchuk police station jurisdiction.
Acting on precise intelligence received by Partha Sarathi Mahanta, Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, a specialised tactical team was assembled to intercept the smugglers. Under the Commissioner's direct guidance, the operation was executed around 8:00 PM on May 22 near the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) in Bathoupuri, Betkuchi, close to the Bathou Temple.
The operation was led by: Maitrayee Deka, APS, CDSP, Jalukbari; Inspector Vikram Basumatary, Officer-in-Charge, Gorchuk Police Station and a dedicated field staff from the Gorchuk police station.
During the raid, the police intercepted and apprehended two suspects. Upon a thorough search of their belongings, officials discovered a bizarre and cruel concealment method: 26 live geckos individual packed into bamboo tubes, locally known as sungas.
"Each bamboo tube was meticulously wrapped with netting and cotton cloth, containing one live Gecko (Keko) inside," explained Inspector Vikram Basumatary. "The accused were found to be illegally transporting these reptiles for the explicit purpose of wildlife smuggling."
During the operation, the police team apprehended two persons who were identified as Md Ikramul Hussain, S/o Late Abdul Malek, R/o Village Gerjaipam, PS Kochua, District Nagaon, Assam and Md Jamiruddin, S/o Md Gomesuddin, R/o Village Sonartari, PS Tarabari, District Barpeta, Assam. "Based on reliable source information and directive of Partha Sarathi Mahanta, Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, a team was formed, and the team apprehended two persons. On search, 26 bamboo tubes (Sunga), each wrapped with netting and cotton cloth and containing one live Gecko (Keko), were recovered and seized from their possession. Accordingly, a total of 26 live Geckos were recovered during the operation. The accused persons were found to be illegally transporting the live Geckos concealed inside the bamboo tubes for wildlife smuggling. Accordingly, both accused persons have been arrested, and necessary legal action has been initiated as per law," Vikram Basumatary said.
Tokay geckos are highly sought after in the illegal wildlife market due to baseless traditional medicine myths and the exotic pet trade, making them frequent targets for international trafficking rings.
Following the successful raid, the police seized all 26 reptiles and officially placed both suspects under arrest. Law enforcement confirmed that necessary legal action has been initiated against the duo under relevant sections of the law, and further investigations are underway to trace the broader smuggling network.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, who even buys these geckos? Is it for some stupid superstition or so-called 'medicine'? We need to educate people that wildlife trafficking is not just illegal but also barbaric. Those bamboo tubes must have been torture for the poor creatures. Thank you Guwahati Police for stopping this cruelty. 🙏
Good job by the police, but I can't help feeling sad that these people are just small fish. The real kingpins who fund this trade are probably sitting comfortably somewhere. The police should use these arrests to track the whole network. Also, why are we not teaching our kids about conservation? Every school should have a lesson on wildlife protection.
Incredible work by Maitrayee Deka and Inspector Vikram Basumatary! These tokay geckos are worth lakhs in the international market, all because of baseless myths. Our North-East forests are precious and we must protect them. One suggestion though - the police should also work with forest departments to ensure proper rehabilitation of rescued animals. Well done team! 💪
I appreciate the police effort, but honestly, with so many big issues like drugs and terrorism, is catching gecko smugglers really the best use of police resources? 🤔 These guys might be petty criminals who need money. A warning and some community service might be better than jailing them. Just a thought.
This is heartbreaking. Imagine being stuffed into a bamboo tube, suffocating and terrified. These geckos are innocent beings who just want to live in the wild.
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