Major Ivory Trafficking Racket Busted in Balasore District
In a significant crackdown on illegal wildlife trade, forest officials in Balasore district successfully dismantled an ivory trafficking racket on Thursday. The operation resulted in the seizure of two elephant tusks and the arrest of four individuals from Talanagar village.
Covert Operation Leads to Arrests
The meticulously planned operation was spearheaded by Balasore divisional forest officer (DFO) Prafulla Kumar Mallick. It involved two specialized teams conducting coordinated raids across multiple locations. According to DFO Mallick, the accused were apprehended during a covert sting operation where forest personnel cleverly posed as prospective buyers.
Acting as decoy traders, the officials negotiated a deal to purchase ivory from the suspects. They proceeded to a house in Talanagar village where the illegal transaction was taking place, leading to the immediate apprehension of the four accused.
Evidence Seized and Network Suspected
During the raid, authorities recovered two elephant tusks from the possession of the accused. Additionally, two motorcycles and four mobile phones were confiscated as part of the evidence. DFO Mallick stated, "We believe the accused are part of a larger ivory smuggling network and suspect the involvement of more individuals in illegal wildlife trade."
The identities of the arrested individuals have been withheld as the investigation is currently ongoing. Forest officials are intensifying their efforts to trace the source of the ivory and identify other members connected to this extensive racket.
This operation underscores the ongoing challenges and dedicated efforts in combating wildlife crime, particularly the illicit trade in elephant ivory which threatens endangered species.
