Mumbai, October 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled an alleged wildlife trafficking syndicate involved in the illegal trade of leopard skin in Maharashtra’s Gondia district, apprehending two persons and seizing a leopard skin.
The operation was conducted by the DRI’s Nagpur Regional Unit, under the Mumbai Zonal Unit, near Purada village in Gondia on September 29, officials said on Thursday.
The two accused were apprehended for their alleged involvement in the illegal dealing and trading of the leopard skin, which was recovered from their possession. The skin was seized under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as the leopard (Panthera pardus) is listed under Schedule I of the Act, which prohibits trade in the animal and its derivatives.
After completion of the seizure formalities, the accused and the seized skin were handed over to the Forest Range Officer of North Deoria Range in Gondia for further action under the relevant provisions of the law.
The DRI said the operation was part of its wider crackdown on wildlife trafficking networks across the country. Its recent operations have included cases involving leopard skin in Ujjain, tiger bones in Seoni, pangolin scales in Pileru and Jagdalpur, and elephant ivory in Mysuru.
In a separate operation near Gandhinagar in Bengaluru, DRI officers intercepted a person and recovered 180 live Indian Star Tortoises concealed in six cloth covers inside his baggage. The tortoises were seized under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, and the accused was arrested.
According to the DRI, the distinctive star-like pattern on the tortoises’ shells makes them attractive in exotic pet and wildlife-collector markets, contributing to illegal capture and international trafficking.
The agency said it continues to coordinate with state Forest departments and other enforcement agencies to target organised wildlife trafficking networks through intelligence-led operations.
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