Koraput, Sep 8: Jaypur forest department on Thursday busted an illegal pangolin smuggling racket and apprehended two wildlife smugglers in this connection.
The apprehended smugglers have been identified as Durya Matpadia of Badapada village and Kartik Mahajan of Majhiguda of the same district.
On the basis of reliable information, a team of STF conducted raid with the help of Forest Officials of Jeypore Forest Division and Koraput district police on Thursday evening near Khadupadar Chhaka on Jeypore-Baipariguda Bypass under Baipariguda PS jurisdiction of Koraput district regarding dealing/possession of wildlife products by wildlife criminals.
During search one Live Pangolin along with other incriminating materials were recovered from their possession. The accused persons could not produce any authority in support of possession of such Live Pangolin, for which they were arrested. The accused person will be forwarded to the Court of SDJM, Jeypore. The Live Pangolin was handed over to DFO, Jeypore for safe custody.
Further Investigation is going on in this regard.
