STF Arrests Two ‘Wildlife Smugglers’, Recovers Live Pangolin In Odisha’s Koraput

Koraput: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police seized a live pangolin and arrested two ‘wildlife smugglers’ in the district on Sunday.

Acting on reliable information that the two persons were planning to smuggle the pangolin, a team of STF with the help Koraput Forest officials conducted a raid on the road between Koraput and Boriguma under Koraput Sadar police station.

During the raid, the wildlife criminals, identified as Madhab Paraja and Jagabandhu Paraja of Bindhaniguda village under Bishingpur police station in the district were apprehended, according to an STF press release.

During search, a live pangolin and other incriminating articles were recovered from their possession. As the accused persons could not produce any document in support of possession of the pangolin, they were detained and later, handed over to Koraput Forest officials.

The pangolin was handed over to DFO, Koraput for safe custody and further investigation is on.

During its special drive against wildlife smuggling since 2020, the STF has seized 25 leopard skins, 13 elephant tusks, 7 deer skins, 11 live pangolins and 16 kg of pangolin scales besides arresting 57 wildlife criminals, the release added.