AIZAWL: Mizoram police intercepted a smuggling operation at Kanhmun village near the Mizoram-Tripura border, rescuing 24 exotic species, including 18 snakes, according to a police statement issued on Thursday (May 30).
The successful intervention led to the arrest of two individuals from Tripura involved in the illegal transport of these animals.
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The bust occurred on May 25, when Mizoram police personnel at Kanhmun halted a maxicab bound for Tripura.
Upon inspection, officers discovered 18 snakes, four turtles, and two monkeys inside the vehicle.
The driver, 32-year-old Chawngthanmawia from Amarpur district in Tripura, was taken into custody by the Mizoram police.
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During questioning, he revealed that he had received the animals from Binoi Molsom at the Zodin bus stand in Aizawl.
Molsom (34), a resident of Baksa in North Tripura district, had directed Chawngthanmawia to deliver the animals to a maxicab counter at Samuli Bazar in Agartala.
Subsequently, Mizoram police in Sairang tracked and apprehended Molsom, further dismantling the smuggling operation.
The rescued animals were handed over to the Kanhmun forest range officer under the Mizoram forest department for further legal action.