Four held with 19kg pangolin scales in Gaya

Gaya: Four suspected members of a wildlife trafficking network were arrested from a hotel in Sherghati in Gaya during a joint operation by the forest department and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) on Monday.

Officials recovered around 19.5kg of pangolin scales and four cellphones from their possession.Divisional forest officer (DFO), Gaya forest division, Shashi Kant said pangolins enjoy the highest level of legal protection under the Wildlife (Protection) Act.“Pangolin is listed under the scheduled animals of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, which grants it the highest level of legal protection. Hunting, possession, trafficking and illegal trade of pangolin is a serious non-bailable offence,” he said.According to the DFO, the WCCB’s eastern regional office in Kolkata received intelligence inputs on July 12 about an illegal deal involving pangolin scales at a hotel in Sherghati. Acting on the tip-off, teams from the Sherghati and Imamganj forest ranges, along with WCCB officials, laid a trap near the hotel on NH-2.During the operation, officials intercepted the suspects and seized 19.5kg of pangolin scales. Four cellphones were also recovered.

The arrested men were identified as Aftab, Nawab, Sharfu Mian and Mumtaz. During interrogation, the accused allegedly revealed the name of one Rafeeq Mian, who is suspected to have transported the pangolin scales to the hotel.“The Sherghati forest division has submitted a report and seizure list before the court of the additional chief judicial magistrate, Sherghati, seeking stringent legal action against the accused,” Shashi Kant said.Forest officials said further investigation is underway to trace other members of the alleged wildlife trafficking network and ascertain the source and intended destination of the seized pangolin scales.