Police Seize 26 Tokay Geckos and Arrest Two in Guwahati Wildlife Sting

Overview

• Gorchuk Police carried out a targeted night operation in the Betkuchi‑Bathoupuri area after specific intelligence led them to intercept suspected traffickers.
• Officers arrested two men identified as Ikramul Hussain of Nagaon and Jamiruddin of Barpeta and recovered 26 Tokay geckos concealed inside hollow bamboo tubes known locally as sunga.
• The animals were packed in carton boxes and transported on a motorcycle that police seized, and the geckos were handed to the forest department for care.
• Police estimate the haul’s international value at roughly Rs 3 crore and say preliminary inquiries indicate the reptiles were being moved out of Assam for illegal sale.
• Investigators have opened an active probe to trace the geckos’ source, destination, and any wider smuggling links, highlighting how porous borders and difficult terrain make the Northeast vulnerable to organised wildlife trafficking.