Assam police seize six musk deer pods and arrest two men
Assam Police have arrested two men from Arunachal Pradesh after recovering six musk deer pods weighing 158 grams near Guwahati. Police said the seizure may be linked to wildlife trafficking and are investigating the pods’ species, source and intended destination. Musk deer are protected under international and Indian wildlife laws.
Assam Police have arrested two men after recovering six musk deer pods during an operation near Guwahati, officials said. A Special Operations Group and local police intercepted the men at Medhikuchi, about 30 kilometres east of Guwahati, on Saturday. The suspects were identified as Moga Doye, 48, from Lower Siang district and Nokphua Wangsa, 44, from Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh.
The recovered pods weighed 158 grams. A musk deer pod is a scent gland found in the abdomen of a male musk deer. It produces a strong-smelling secretion that is used in traditional perfumes and medicines.
A police spokesperson said the preliminary investigation indicated that the pods were being transported out of Assam. The seizure has raised concerns about the movement of wildlife products through the State. Police have begun legal proceedings and are investigating the species from which the pods came, as well as their source and intended destination.
The spokesperson said the inquiry was continuing. Musk deer belong to the Moschidae family and are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The listing covers species considered at the highest risk from international trade.
The species is also protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The arrests and seizure followed what police described as an attempt to transport suspected wildlife products.
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