Aizawl, Feb 1 (PTI) Assam Rifles personnel with officials of Mizoram forest department have arrested two persons for smuggling exotic bird and animal species in east Mizoram's Champai Town, the paramilitary force said in a statement on Thursday.

The incident happened near the Myanmar border on Wednesday, it said.

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The persons aged 20 and 29 years were arrested for smuggling the exotic species worth Rs 68.4 lakh, it added.

The animals and birds were hidden in iron cages and plastic baskets and were being brought to Aizawl from Zokhawthar on the Indo-Myanmar border, it said.

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The rescued exotic species as well as the accused were handed over to the forest department in Champhai for further legal proceedings, it added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)