Seven exotic primates, drugs seized in southern Assam

Burmese areca nuts and foreign cigarettes — both illegal commodities — were also seized on an eventful day in Cachar and Hailakandi districts of Assam

The police in southern Assam’s Hailakandi and Cachar districts seized seven exotic primates and narcotic drugs worth ₹10 crore on November 14. The day also saw the Cachar police seize Burmese areca nuts and foreign-made cigarettes — both illegal commodities — in hidden chambers of trucks.

Barring the drugs seized from a house, the other items had come in trucks come from Mizoram, the police said.

“The seven primates, all black, were crammed in four boxes measuring 2 ft by 1.5 ft. We brought veterinarians to check their health before handing them over to the forest department officials,” Hailakandi district’s Superintendent of Police, Nabaneet Mahanta told The Hindu on Tuesday.

“Wildlife officials have not been able to identify the species but said they are endangered and not Indian,” he said.

Mr. Mahanta said two persons, including the truck driver identified as Rakesh Debbarma from Tripura, were arrested along with the seized animals. “The two said they were paid to deliver the primates to someone in Shillong, from where another unknown person was to have taken the consignment,” he added.

The destination of the animals, like at least 175 other exotic mammals, reptiles and birds seized in Assam since September, was Siliguri in northern West Bengal for delivery to private zoos and amusement parks, police said.

The Assam police said all loaded trucks from Mizoram are thoroughly checked at the border between the two States. Of late, the police have focused on empty trucks that are modified in a manner that escapes the untrained eye.