Guwahati, 11th August: In a decisive operation, the Goalpara district forest department successfully apprehended four wildlife smugglers involved in the illicit trade of pangolin scales. The arrests took place at Daranggiri, an area notorious for illegal wildlife activities.
Acting on reliable intelligence, a team led by Consultation Ranger Dharmendra Das, with assistance from Rangjuli forest officials and staff, conducted a raid at a dhaba in Daranggiri. The operation resulted in the recovery of a significant quantity of pangolin scales and the arrest of four individuals who were allegedly preparing to sell the contraband. The smugglers had reportedly transported the animal parts from neighboring Meghalaya and were in the process of arranging a sale from the dhaba.
The forest department had been closely monitoring the smugglers’ activities, leading to their capture in the act. The arrested suspects, identified as Jindas Momin, Faverson Momin, Killen Sangma from Waramja in Meghalaya, and Karbisto Momin from Mandadropo, were taken into custody immediately. The confiscated pangolin scales, with an estimated market value of around Rs 1.5 lakh, were also seized.
The suspects were brought to the Rangjuli Forest Officer’s office, where they faced departmental action. Dharmendra Das, who spearheaded the operation, emphasized the critical role of such seizures in combating the illegal wildlife trade, which poses a severe threat to the region’s biodiversity.
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