Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch, with the help of Boudh Forest Officials, seized a pangolin near Bagharpur village in Boudh district on Sunday evening.
On the basis of reliable information, regarding dealing/possession of wildlife products by wildlife criminals, a team of STF conducted a raid with the help of Boudh Forest Officials and apprehended one wildlife criminal namely Prakash Mohakud of Mangalpur village.
During the search, one Pangolin weighing 11 kg and other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession. The accused person could not produce any authority in support of possession of possession of the Pangolin, for which was detained and handed over to BoudhForest Officials under Berhampur Forest Division for necessary legal action at their end.
The Pangolin was also handed over to DFO Boudh for safe custody. Further enquiry is going on.
Special drive against the wildlife criminals/poachers is continuing. Since 2020, STF has seized as many as 27 leopard skins, 18 elephant tusks, seven deer skins, 13 live pangolins, 30 kg 400 gm of pangolin scales, two leopard teeth, 29 leopard claws, 46 live wild parrots with the arrest of 66 wildlife criminals.
