Baripada/Udala.Dec.11 : Special Task Force of Odisha Crime Branch has apprehended six more persons accused in wildlife trafficking, police sources said today.
A team led by DSP Tejraj Patel raided several hideouts and arrested six accused – Agnisar Nayak, Chaianya Nayak, Pratap Nayak, Kesab Dehuri, Gopinath Nayak and Nakula Dehuri – last night.
During house search, a piece of trophy of elephant tusk weighing 500 gm was recovered form the house of Agnisar Nayak, police said.
All the accused were forwarded to court today.
Worth mentioning, STF had arrested four persons earlier with rescue of two live pangolins which they were planning to sell it off at around Rs 22 lakh.
The investigators suspect involvement of an international racket in smuggling of wildlife.
Steps are being taken to identify other accused persons responsible for ramification. The investigation is in progress, police added.
Prasanta Patnaik