Wildlife trafficking crackdown: DRI seizes Ivory, Leopard Skin, Pangolins and Tiger bones

New Delhi:- Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, DRI has seized four elephant ivory articles including intricately carved ivory articles, one leopard skin, two live pangolins, three kg tiger bones and two tiger canines, in three intelligence-led operations.

Eleven persons have been apprehended in the three operations. Ministry of Finance said that in the operation targeting illegal trade in elephant ivory, DRI officers conducted a decoy operation.

The operation was based on specific intelligence regarding attempts to illicitly sell four elephant tusks, including intricately carved ivory articles.

The operation resulted in the recovery of the four wildlife articles and apprehension of three persons involved in the transaction. The seized articles and the detained persons were handed over to the jurisdictional Forest Range Officer for further investigation and necessary action.

In another intelligence led operation on 29th of last month, DRI officers intercepted two persons near Purada village in Gondia district, Maharashtra, suspected to be attempting to sell leopard’s skin after killing it.

The interception resulted recovery of one leopard skin. In a major joint operation on 26th and 27th of last month in the Allapalli forest area of Maharashtra, DRI, along with the Forest Department, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Mumbai and USTR Anti-Poaching Unit, intercepted six persons.

The persons were suspected to be involved in the illicit trade of endangered wildlife. The operation resulted in the recovery of one live adult pangolin, one live baby pangolin, 3 kg tiger bones and two tiger canines.