Three ivory tusks worth crores were seized during a narcotics raid in Kailashahar, Tripura. The recovery exposed deep-rooted cross-border ivory smuggling networks. Authorities launched a joint manhunt for the accused. The case highlights the Indo-Bangladesh border’s role in elephant-related wildlife crime and illegal ivory trade resurgence.
In a operation that has sent shockwaves across Tripura’s Unakoti district, police from the Irani Police Station in Kailashahar recovered three large ivory tusks, reportedly worth crores, during a narcotics-related raid on Saturday evening. The bust has raised serious concerns about the resurgence of elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade in the region, especially along the Indo-Bangladesh international border.
According to Kailashahar Forest Range Officer Shubhankar Biswas, the police were acting on a specific intelligence input regarding the presence of illegal materials in the house of one Mayub Ali, a resident of Sonamura village, under the Yazikhawra Gram Panchayat.
Upon receiving the tip-off, the police team from Irani PS swiftly launched a raid on Ali’s residence. While their primary objective was to crack down on narcotics-related activities, the discovery of three high-value ivory tusks took everyone by surprise. Forest officials were promptly informed, and the recovered ivory was transported to the Kailashahar Forest Department office for secure storage and examination.
However, Mayub Ali, son of Moharram Ali, managed to flee before the authorities could apprehend him. As of now, he remains absconding, and a joint manhunt by both the forest department and the local police is ongoing.
Forest Officer Biswas confirmed that the seized tusks will be sent to a forensic laboratory to determine their origin, age, and other critical details that could aid the investigation. Initial assessments suggest the tusks are from adult elephants and may have originated from poaching operations involving both local and cross-border elements.
A Known Hotspot for Elephant Crimes
The area surrounding Irani Police Station is strategically located near the Indo-Bangladesh border, which has for years served as a conduit for illegal activities involving wildlife, especially elephants. Forest officials and law enforcement agencies have repeatedly flagged concerns over the use of domesticated elephants to illegally transport heavy timber across state lines and even internationally.
The porous nature of the border has made ivory smuggling into Bangladesh a lucrative but highly illegal trade. In exchange, smugglers reportedly earn several crores of rupees, often reinvesting the profits into other forms of trafficking. Despite the issue being well-known, this is the first significant ivory seizure in the Kailashahar region in nearly a decade.
A senior forest official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that two years ago, an incident involving a wild elephant smuggled from Bangladesh came to light when border fencing was cut open to bring the animal into Indian territory. The elephant was eventually rescued by forest personnel and transferred to the Teliamura forest range for rehabilitation. The case related to that smuggling operation is still pending in the Kailashahar court, highlighting the slow pace of legal proceedings in wildlife crime cases.
Growing Concern Among Authorities and Locals
The recent ivory bust has reignited fears that organized elephant poaching syndicates are once again active in the region. The fact that such a large cache of ivory was discovered not in a forest or smuggling transit route but at a residential home in a village has underscored the depth of the network involved.
Environmental activists and wildlife conservationists have urged state authorities to take swift and strong action. “Ivory trafficking is not just a crime against animals; it’s a crime against our shared ecological heritage,” said one local conservationist. “This incident must be taken as a wake-up call.”
Officials are now ramping up vigilance along the border areas and increasing surveillance in forest-adjacent villages. Drone technology and undercover informant networks are also being discussed as possible tools to enhance monitoring and enforcement.
What’s Next?
With Mayub Ali still on the run, the success of the operation hinges on tracking him down and uncovering the larger network behind the seized ivory. Investigators believe Ali may have acted as a middleman for a more extensive smuggling ring that could stretch across Tripura, Bangladesh, and possibly other northeastern states.
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As the investigation continues, the Kailashahar ivory bust stands as a grim reminder of the threats still looming over India’s endangered elephant population — and the urgent need for cross-border cooperation, community vigilance, and legal reform to tackle the menace of wildlife trafficking.
