Mizoram Police rescues 468 animals, gears up to tackle smuggling of exotic species

New Delhi: Clamping down on the smugglers involved in trafficking of exotic species, the Mizoram Police has apprehended at least 5 culprits and rescued a big haul of wildlife animals that was being illicitly transported out of the state.

As many as 468 exotic wildlife species were being smuggled from Champhai district of Mizoram. The Mizoram cops, acting on a tip-off about this, acted well in time and nabbed 1 main culprit & his 4 accomplices who aided him in illicit trade.

The rescued wildlife animals include 4 tortoises, 11 snakes, 442 lizards, 4 toed sloths, 2 beavers, 4 pattos and 1 wild cat. The rescued animals and the arrested five persons were handed over to Custom preventive force.

While Mizoram Police received applause for rescuing big haul of exotic species, it said that it maintains zero tolerance towards such crimes.

“Preservation of wildlife is our responsibility and those attempting to alter with it won’t be spared,” it said.

We will not let smugglers to get away with exotic wildlife species. Preservation of wildlife is our onerous Responsibility.
Today early morning, acting on a specific input, Champhai Police on duty at Chalbawia Junction, Khankawn Police Checkgate seized and recovered huge number pic.twitter.com/UOr9ikRunZ

— mizorampolice (@mizorampolice) May 25, 2022

How traffickers were caught

The smugglers were caught at Chalbawia Junction by the alert cops while they tried to cross the check post. A 28-year-old Gospel Chanchintha was nabbed by cops along with his 4 accomplices.

The illegal traffickers were trying to sneak through the border by evading police cover at check post. Their strategy was to trick the policemen by walking on foot and carrying the exotic animals on head. But, the alert cops on duty nipped their plan in the bud and foiled the trafficking of wildlife animals.

The Mizoram police has also received praise for its watchful & vigilant approach in outsmarting the designs of animal traffickers.

Meanwhile, the Mizoram Police has asked all senior police officials to activate wildlife crime control patrolling to prevent smuggling & trafficking of exotic species from the state.