Sat Apr 12 02:24:43 UTC 2025: ## Assam Police Bust Tokay Gecko Smuggling Ring, Seize 11 Lizards Worth Crores
**Dibrugarh, Assam –** Assam Police have foiled a major wildlife smuggling operation, arresting three individuals and seizing eleven rare tokay geckos in Dibrugarh on Friday. The lizards, highly endangered and protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, were destined for the lucrative Southeast Asian black market.
Acting on a tip-off, a Special Task Force (STF) team, supported by Dibrugarh district police and the Wildlife Justice Commission, set a trap near Mohanbari. Three suspects – Debashis Dohutia (34), Manash Dohutia (28), and Dipankar Gharphalia (40) – were apprehended at Sun Feast Dhaba. Police recovered the geckos from a red backpack in a vehicle belonging to the suspects.
Interrogation revealed the suspects had sourced the geckos from Arunachal Pradesh and intended to sell each one for a staggering ₹60 lakh (approximately $72,000 USD) on the international market. If convicted, the trio face up to seven years of rigorous imprisonment.
The successful operation highlights the ongoing threat of wildlife trafficking in the region, where tokay geckos, found only in limited pockets of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, are highly sought after. Police praised the collaborative effort that led to the arrests and seizure.
First Piper 