New Delhi, Sept 10: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized two leopard pelts, 180 live Indian Star Tortoises, 12 live Tokay Geckos, around 24 kg of pangolin scales and 500 grams of tiger bones in six intelligence-led operations conducted across the country over the past 10 days. Thirteen people were arrested in connection with the seizures.
According to an official release, one of the operations was carried out on September 7 in Jeypore, Odisha’s Koraput district, where DRI officers intercepted a person and recovered a leopard pelt. Leopards are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which prohibits the trade, sale, purchase, possession and transportation of their pelts and body parts. The accused and the seized pelt were handed over to the Koraput State Forest Department for further investigation and legal action.
On the same day, DRI officers intercepted a person near Gandhinagar in Bengaluru and recovered 180 live Indian Star Tortoises concealed in six cloth covers inside his baggage. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) identified the species as Geochelone elegans, which is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The tortoises are highly sought after in exotic pet and wildlife-collector markets, making them vulnerable to illegal capture and international trafficking. The 180 tortoises were seized and the accused was arrested.
In another operation, DRI officials intercepted a Bolero truck in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district while it was travelling towards Mawhati. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 14.68 kg of dried pangolin scales packed in three carry bags.
Pangolins are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and are also listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). They are among the world’s most trafficked mammals, with their scales being illegally sought for use in traditional medicine in parts of Asia.
The seized pangolin scales, along with the accused and the vehicle, were handed over to the Range Forest Officer in Nongpoh for further legal action.
