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Cuttack: In a major crackdown, the forest department officials Friday arrested notorious wildlife smuggler Madhab Patra for his alleged involvement in pangolin smuggling racket in the State.
Patra, a member of ‘Sasura-Jwain’ gang was nabbed from Godi Sahi under Narasinghpur area of Cuttack district. A video purportedly showing Patra involved in smuggling the scaly anteaters had gone viral on social media few days back.
Sources said Patra has revealed vital information during interrogation and the officials have also seized important documents from his possession.
The racket was being carried out using code words like- ‘puruna 20 paisa’, ‘kana paisa’, said a forest official.
Earlier, as many as 10 members of the wild animal trafficking racket were arrested in Athagarh area of Cuttack district. A total of 15 members of the gang have so far been nabbed by the forest department. However, the mastermind of the racket is still at large.
Meanwhile, the forest department has intimated the special task force (STF) of state crime branch about the case and also approached the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau’s (WCCB) office in New Delhi seeking its help in cracking the case.
The STF had earlier revealed the pangolin smuggling racket’s link to Burma.