Kishanganj: Police in Bihar’s Kishanganj district have uncovered what they believe to be an international camel smuggling operation, rescuing 12 camels found crammed inside a truck and arresting three men, officials said on Sunday.
The animals were recovered on Sunday during a vehicle check in the Kochadhaman police station area after officers received a tip-off that camels were being illegally transported along the Kochadhaman–Kishanganj route. Acting on the information, police set up checks on the Handibhasha Maudho paved road under the supervision of the station house officer.
A truck bearing a Uttar Pradesh registration number was stopped during the operation. The driver initially claimed the vehicle was empty, but a search revealed 12 camels packed inside in what police described as deplorable and cramped conditions. The truck was seized and three mobile phones were recovered from the spot.
Three men – identified by police as Amjad, Hasim and Mohammad Soyeb, all residents of Uttar Pradesh – were arrested in connection with the case. A first information report has been registered at Kochadhaman police station (case number 27/2026).
According to the police, preliminary investigations suggest the consignment was part of a larger, organised smuggling network and that the camels may have been destined for a neighbouring country. Officers believe a wider gang could be operating behind the scenes.
Kishanganj’s superintendent of police, Santosh Kumar, said the investigation was being pursued “seriously” and that efforts were under way to trace the suspects’ contacts and the full extent of the network. He noted that incidents of camel smuggling have been reported in the district around Eid al-Adha in previous years, and described the latest operation as a significant breakthrough. Police said further arrests were possible as the investigation continues.
