Hyderabad, Feb 10 (TNT) In a major crackdown on wildlife crime, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Hyderabad Zonal Unit, busted an illegal wildlife trafficking racket and seized tiger body parts meant for sale in the grey market.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs on Monday, DRI officials conducted a well-planned operation on Sunday and intercepted two suspected wildlife traffickers.
During questioning, one of the suspects was found carrying a transparent zip-lock pouch concealed inside a backpack.
On inspection, the pouch was found to contain seven tiger nails and three tiger canine teeth, suspected to be parts of a tiger, a Schedule-I protected species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Possession, transportation, or trade of tiger parts is a serious and punishable offence under the Act.
The seized wildlife articles, along with the packing material, backpack, and mobile phones used by the accused, were taken into custody.
The two suspects were subsequently handed over to the Telangana State Forest Department for further investigation and legal action.
Forest officials are now probing the source of the seized tiger parts and possible links to a wider interstate wildlife trafficking network.
TNT TS
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