Guwahati: In one of the biggest wildlife trafficking crackdowns in recent times, authorities in Assam on Tuesday seized over 220 kilograms of pangolin scales from a passenger train at Barpeta Road railway station and arrested three persons, including a woman, officials said.
The contraband, believed to have been transported from Chennai to Guwahati, was intercepted during a joint operation by teams from Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Shastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
Confirming the seizure, Manas National Park Field Director C. Ramesh said the haul marks “a significant breakthrough” in the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking in the region.
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“This operation highlights the robust coordination among enforcement agencies and reflects India’s growing resolve to protect endangered species like the pangolin — one of the most trafficked mammals in the world,” Ramesh said.
Officials said investigations are underway to trace the broader network involved in smuggling the wildlife material.
