HYDERABAD: Forest officials on Thursday busted an organised pangolin poaching and smuggling racket after receiving a tip-off from reliable sources about the ongoing trade in Telangana.
After a week-long investigation into the crime, forest personnel seized over 200 pangolin scales, a knife, one fake pistol and arrested three persons hailing from Golleti village in Rebanna mandal of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district.
A 10-member team of the forest department headed by district forest officials of Asifabad formed teams to investigate organized wildlife crime.
Pangolins fall under the list of critically endangered as per appendix – 1 of CITES and are also listed under Schedule – 1 in Wildlife Protection Act.
Hunting and trading of it is a serious offence and punishable with minimum punishment of seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of not less than Rs 5 lakh.
Hyd: Pangolin poaching racket busted, 3 held
