Bhubaneswar: A joint team of the Special Task Force (STF) on Odisha Crime Branch and Angul Forest officials seized two elephant tusks from the possession of a wildlife criminal during a raid on Wednesday.
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 Angul Forest officials near Kandhakoili village under Purunakote police limits of the district.
As a result, one wildlife criminal namely Duryadhan Pradhan of Betara, Kandhakoili under Purunakote police limits of the district was apprehended.
During the search, two elephant tusks weighing 04 kg 500 gram and other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession. He could not produce any authority in support of the possession of such elephant tusks, for which he was detained and handed over to Angul Forest Officials for necessary legal action at their end.
Special drive against the wildlife criminals/poachers is continuing. Since 2020, STF has seized as many as 26 elephant tusks.
