TURA, March 23 - West Garo Hills police today arrested a smuggler with 13 ivory tusks from a place close to the Bangladesh border during a checking in Dalu area.
According to police, on duty policemen at the �Naka� point noticed suspicious movements by a man on a motorcycle which prompted them to stop the bike and conduct a check of the bags of the person.
�The elephant tusks were found hidden in his bag. He has been arrested and the DFO Wildlife informed. A case has also been filed at the Dalu Police Station,� police said.
The arrested smuggler has been identified as one Jacob Marak (33), a resident of Wagebokgre under Gasuapara PS in South Garo Hills.
The smuggler informed the police that a buyer from Assam had been contacted and he was on his way to receive the elephant tusks. �However, knowing of the arrest of the smuggler, the prospective buyer may have fled,� said the source.
Police have not ruled out an international nexus of ivory smugglers and efforts are on to arrest others involved in the racket.
