Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Assam STF Arrests Two With Elephant Ivory Near Bhutan Border
Police officers in Assam, India, work to stop people from selling parts of wild animals.
On Friday night, they caught two men near the border between India and Bhutan.
The men had two big elephant tusks with them.
The tusks weighed about 4 kilograms altogether.
Selling elephant tusks is against the law, but some people still try to do it for money.
The two men were trying to sell the tusks for about ₹6 lakh, which is a very large amount of money.
The officers took the tusks away and told the two men they were under arrest.
Then they gave the tusks to the Forest Department, which takes care of forests and wild animals.
The police also filed an official report so the case can be looked into further.
They want to find other people involved in this illegal trade of animal parts.
Assam STF arrested Gwhwm Basumatary (29) and Swdwbma Badimatary (23), both residents of Tamulpur, from Bangalipara.
The operation was launched on Friday night based on reliable intelligence near the Indo-Bhutan border.
Police recovered two elephant ivory tusks weighing 2.09 kg and 1.97 kg, a combined 4 kg.
The men were allegedly trying to sell the tusks for around ₹6 lakh, at about ₹1.5 lakh per kg.
The accused, tusks, and other seized items were handed to the Forest Department and an FIR was lodged to probe the wider wildlife trafficking nexus.
- Who
- Gwhwm Basumatary (29) and Swdwbma Badimatary (23), both residents of Tamulpur, arrested by the Special Task Force (STF), Assam.
- What
- The men were arrested with two elephant ivory tusks weighing 4 kg that they were allegedly attempting to sell for approximately ₹6 lakh.
- When
- Friday night, as reported in the August 8 news item.
- Where
- Bangalipara, Tamulpur district, near the Indo-Bhutan border in Assam, India.
- Why
- They were suspected of involvement in the illegal trade of elephant ivory; authorities aim to unearth the wider inter-State and pan-India trafficking nexus.
- Persons arrested
- Gwhwm Basumatary (29) and Swdwbma Badimatary (23), residents of Tamulpur
- Contraband recovered
- Two elephant ivory tusks weighing 2.09 kg and 1.97 kg (4 kg total)
- Alleged value
- Approximately ₹6 lakh, at a negotiated rate of about ₹1.5 lakh per kg
- Arrest location
- Bangalipara, Tamulpur district, near the Indo-Bhutan border
- Operating agency
- Special Task Force (STF), Assam
- Next steps
- Accused and seized items handed to the Forest Department; FIR lodged for further investigation
- Reported date
- August 8