Illegal Wildlife Trade: Red Sand Boa Bust in Mumbai

Four individuals were arrested in Mumbai for allegedly trying to illegally sell a red sand boa snake. Police acted on a tip-off and apprehended the suspects in the Cuffe Parade area. The red sand boa was valued at Rs 30 lakh in the grey market. The suspects were charged under the Wildlife Protection Act.

In a significant police operation in Mumbai, four individuals were apprehended on Monday night for allegedly attempting to sell a red sand boa snake illegally. The arrest followed a tip-off received by Assistant Police Inspector Amit Deokar, who acted swiftly to foil the illegal sale.

The suspects, identified as Narasimha Satyama Dhoti, Shiva Mallesh Adap, Ravi Vasant Bhoir, and Arvind Chaturam Gupta, were caught near Maker Chambers in the Cuffe Parade area. Dhoti and Adap hail from Telangana, while Bhoir and Gupta are from Mumbai and Thane district, respectively.

The police team intercepted an SUV and discovered the valuable red sand boa inside a bag, with an estimated worth of Rs 30 lakh in the grey market. The suspects now face charges under the Wildlife Protection Act, and the confiscated snake has been handed over to the forest department for safekeeping.

(With inputs from agencies.)