📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Timothy A. Gonsalves
Crime
Meghalaya Police Seize Elephant Tusks and Pangolin Scales in Ri Bhoi Raid
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 05 Aug 2026, 02:48 PM
👁 4
Police in Meghalaya’s Ri Bhoi district conducted a raid that resulted in the seizure of illegal elephant tusks and pangolin scales, authorities said.
Police in Meghalaya’s Ri Bhoi district carried out a raid on a suspected wildlife trafficking hub, seizing a cache of elephant tusks and pangolin scales. The operation was led by the state’s Wildlife Crime Unit, which has intensified efforts to curb illegal wildlife trade in the region.
The seized items are believed to have been smuggled for the black‑market demand for ivory and pangolin parts, both of which are protected under national and international wildlife protection laws. The authorities have announced that the perpetrators will face prosecution under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Officials said the raid also uncovered evidence of a larger network involved in the trafficking of endangered species. The seized goods will be stored in a secure facility pending further investigation and possible legal action.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by wildlife conservation agencies in the northeastern states, where illegal trade routes often cross porous borders.
The seized items are believed to have been smuggled for the black‑market demand for ivory and pangolin parts, both of which are protected under national and international wildlife protection laws. The authorities have announced that the perpetrators will face prosecution under the Wildlife Protection Act.
Officials said the raid also uncovered evidence of a larger network involved in the trafficking of endangered species. The seized goods will be stored in a secure facility pending further investigation and possible legal action.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by wildlife conservation agencies in the northeastern states, where illegal trade routes often cross porous borders.