Wildlife Smuggling Racket: STF Arrests 1, Seizes 4 Kg Pangolin Scales

The Special Task Force (STF) of Crime Branch has seized around 4 kilograms of Pangolin scales following a raid near a road near Dhauli chhak on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on Friday. One accused, identified as Biswajit Pattnaik of Puri district has been arrested in this connection.

The accused was nabbed following a raid which was conducted by the STF with assistance from Bhubaneswar city forest officials.

“One wildlife criminal -Biswajit Pattanaik of Puri has been arrested and 4 Kg Pangolin Scales and other incriminating materials have been recovered from his possession,” said STF in a release.

The accused has been handed over to DFO City Forest Officials for necessary legal action and further investigation is underway.

It is pertinent to mention here that the STF is conducting a massive drive against the wildlife criminals/poachers who are active in different parts of the State. Around 26 leopard skin, 15 elephant tusks, 7 deer skin, 11 live pangolins, 23.5 kg of pangolin scales, 2 leopard teeth, 29 leopard claws have been seized in the ongoing drive so far.

Apart from this, 46 live wild parrots have also been rescued. A total of 61 wildlife criminals have been arrested in different cases so far.