Bhubaneswar: The special task force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch with the help of Bhubaneswar City Forest Officials on Friday nabbed a wildlife criminal and seized around four kilograms of pangolin scales from his possession.
On the basis of reliable information regarding dealing/possession of wildlife products by wildlife criminals, a joint team of STF and Bhubaneswar City Forest Officials conducted a raid in between Dhauli Chhak to Dhauli on Friday.
As a result of which one wildlife criminal namely Biswajit Pattanaik of Ghateswarpur village under Delanga police limits of Puri district was apprehended.
During the search, four kilograms of pangolin scales and other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession. Pattanaik could not produce any authority in support of the possession of such pangolin scales, for which was detained and handed over to DFO City Forest Officials for necessary legal action at their end. The enquiry is going on.
The STF is continuing its special drive against wildlife criminals/poachers. Till date, STF has seized as many as 26 leopard skins, 15 elephant tusks, 7 deer skins, 11 live pangolin, 23.5 kg of pangolin scales, 2 leopard teeth, 29 leopard claws, 46 live wild parrots with arrest of 61 wildlife criminals.
