In India, these species are found only in a few pockets in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
The police in Assam’s Dibrugarh seized 11 rare tokay gecko lizards and arrested three smugglers on Friday. The export of tokay geckos is banned as they are listed as highly endangered under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
If found guilty, there is a maximum punishment of seven years of rigorous imprisonment.
In India, these species are found only in a few pockets in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, but they are highly demanded in the grey market in Southeast Asia.
The arrested persons were identified as Debashis Dohutia (34), Manash Dohutia (28) and Dipankar Gharphalia (40 ).
During interrogation, they told the police that they brought the tokay geckos from Arunachal Pradesh and were trying to sell each of them for Rs 60 lakh.
₹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
The police said they acted on a tip-off regarding the smuggling of the tokay gecko lizards in Dibrugarh and formed a team of Special Task Force (STF).