Baripada: Five wildlife smugglers were arrested and four pieces of elephant tusks seized from them by forest department officials in Jashipur area of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of forest officials carried out a raid at Jamukeswar village in Jashipur area and arrested the smugglers. During a search, the officials also recovered four elephant tusks from their possession and seized them, sources said on Sunday.
The team comprised an ACF, ROs and personnel of Similipal south, Similipal north and Rairangpur division headed by Deputy Director Similipal south division.
Efforts are on to ascertain whether the arrested accused are poachers or traders. The forest department officials are expected to share more information later.
The identities of the arrested persons have not been disclosed so far. Further investigation is in progress.
