Raids Uncover Major Illegal Wildlife Trade Network

Five individuals were arrested for involvement in illegal wildlife trade, with monitor lizard genitalia, deer antlers, and jackal skin seized. The crackdown was led by forest officials in collaboration with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. The accused were denied bail and sent to jail under judicial custody.

In a significant crackdown, five individuals have been arrested for their involvement in the illegal trade of animal organs, with substantial quantities of monitor lizard genitalia, deer antlers, and jackal skin seized from the suspects, according to forest officials.

The arrests were made during a raid on four establishments in the Ghantaghar and Gumanpura areas of the city, based on inputs from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) in New Delhi. Authorities seized illegal wildlife products including monitor lizard genitalia, turtle parts, deer antlers, and jackal pelts from these establishments.

The operation was executed by teams from the regional forest office and Abheda Biological Park. All five accused were produced before a court on Thursday, which denied their bail application, sending them to jail under judicial custody. The raids revealed that the shops were selling materials for religious rituals as a front for their illegal activities.

(With inputs from agencies.)