Drugs and Seven exotic primates seized in southern 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 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.

Assam | Seven Ape like endangered animals seized by Hailakandi police team of Ramnathpur PS. Animals were transported from Mizoram. Two persons apprehended and legal action initiated: Hailakandi police pic.twitter.com/sWGbXI7GmI

— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2022