Mizoram Forest Department Rescues Exotic De Brazza’s Monkeys from Wildlife Trafficker

CHAMPHAI: A team of Assam Rifles and Mizoram Forest Department rescued four exotic De Brazza’s monkeys during a joint operation in Champhai on Tuesday, December 17.

According to a statement by the Assam Rifles, the monkeys were worth Rs 60 lakh in the international grey market. They were from Zokhawthar in east Mizoram’s Champhai district near the Indo-Myanmar border.

The statement added, “Acting on intelligent inputs, Assam Rifles troopers launched an ambush in the area and intercepted a trafficker attempting to smuggle the exotic animals across the border.”

The operation was carried out near Crossing Point III (Thangkhupa Kai). The troops of COB Zokhawthar launched an ambush in the area, successfully intercepting a trafficker attempting to smuggle the exotic animals across the border.

The suspect identified as Khawmawias Lalchhanhim, a 40-year-old Myanmar national and resident of Tiau, was arrested for smuggling the exotic animals, it said.

Reports claim that both the accused and the rescued monkeys were handed over to the forest department in Champhai for further investigation and legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles, in a joint operation with the Customs Preventive Force, Champhai, seized a massive quantity of foreign-origin cigarettes, worth more than Rs. 1 crore, in the Chhungte area of Champhai district, Mizoram, on December 16.

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