2 held for smuggling exotic birds & animals near Myanmar border

AIZAWL: Exotic birds and animals worth Rs 68.4 lakh were seized in Champhai district bordering Myanmar in a joint operation by Assam Rifles personnel and officials of the Mizoram forest department on Wednesday.

Vanlalthlana (20) of Aizawl and Vanchhonia (29) of Serkawr village in south Mizoram's Siaha district were arrested for smuggling the exotic animals.

They were kept in iron cages and plastic baskets and were being brought to Aizawl from Zokhawthar on the Indo-Myanmar border, the paramilitary force said in a statement on Thursday.

The consignment comprised 49 cockatoos, marmoset monkeys, snakes, turtles, blackbirds and lizards. The accused have been handed over to the forest department, Champhai.