Police in Dibrugarh, Assam on Friday arrested three people smuggling rare Tokay Gecko lizards and seized 11 Tokay Geckos. These lizards are a critically endangered species under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and their export is completely prohibited. If found guilty, there is a provision for rigorous imprisonment up to seven years.
There was a plan to bring it from Arunachal and sell it
During police interrogation, the accused told that they had brought these lizards from Arunachal Pradesh and were planning to sell each gecko for Rs 60 lakh. The names of the smugglers caught are Debashish Dohutia (34), Manas Dohutia (28) and Deepankar Gharfaliya (40). Let us tell you that in India, these species are found only in some areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, but there is a huge demand for them in the grey market of South Asia.
₹60 lakhs + for a lizard? Not on our watch.
Acting on intel from @WJCommission South Asia, @STFAssam & @dibrugarhpolice rescued 11 Tokay Geckos from traffickers, 3 persons have been arrested & vehicles seized.
The Geckos will be released back into the wild. pic.twitter.com/6L6bcWLLGK
— Assam Police (@assampolice) April 11, 2025
Police made a plan based on secret information
Dibrugarh Police had received secret information that Tokay Gecko was going to be smuggled in Mohanbari area. After this, a team of Special Task Force (STF) was formed and action was taken in collaboration with Dibrugarh District Police and Wildlife Justice Commission of South Asia. The team laid a trap at Sun Fist Dhaba located in Mohanbari Tiniyali.
The accused were caught red handed
According to the police, two smugglers came in a white car (AS-23W-5506) and a bike (AS-06AF-0276). All three met at the dhaba, one of whom took out a red bag from the car and entered the dhaba. At the same time, the STF team raided and arrested the three accused. 11 Tokay Geckos hidden in a red bag were recovered from them. Investigation into the case is ongoing.
