3 Bhutanese arrested for smuggling rhino horn

Darjeeling: Three Bhutanese citizens were arrested while trying to smuggle a rhino horn and ivory in the Jalpaiguri district. Smuggling of animal parts is rampant in North Bengal owing to its geographical location surrounded by four international borders.

Based on a tip off, the Belakoboa Range of the Forest Department undertook a covert operation on Saturday. Sanjay Dutta, the Range Officer had approached the suspects in the guise of a buyer. The trio revealed they were possessing a rhino horn.

"They planned to sell the horn in Kathmandu for Rs 50 lakh. The trio then led me to the vehicle bearing Bhutanese registration number BP-2-A/5137. This is the time when the other forest personnel made an appearance and successfully apprehended the three. The vehicle was also seized," stated Dutta.

They were apprehended at Sulka More, Nagrakata, Jalpaiguri district. "While we were conducting a thorough search of the vehicle, a bag was recovered from the vehicle. The bag contained a rhino horn weighing 1,030 gm and a part of an elephant tusk weighing 500.05 gm," added the Range Officer.

The vehicle along with the arrested were brought to the Belakoba Range Office and interrogated. The arrested are identified as Sonam Dorji (41), Kinzing Wangdi (46) and Sonam Dorji (42). Sonam Dorji is a government employee and the other two are Bhutan Government Contractors. "We have started an investigation" added Dutta. Mobile phones, bank cards, bank cheque books, passport and a hunting knife

were also seized.