India: The forest department has arrested one person and seized around 5 kg of pangolin scales, known for their aphrodisiac and medicinal values, on Sunday night.

This is the second time this week that a pangolin smugglers has been arrested in Balaghat where pangolins are found in large numbers.

Considered to be one of the most trafficked mammals in the world, these shy solitary animals are listed in schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act-1972.

DFO Balaghat (south), Deva Prasad said the arrested person is Ashok Ramtekkar who is an employee of the local civic body in Lanji, Balaghat.

“He works as the driver of the main accused Mahendra Sonwane, his wife and son, but all three are absconding,” Deva said.

The DFO said posing as buyers, forest department officials had laid trap for the accused. “We had been negotiating with them for some time and Ashok came today carrying the scales in two bags and we arrested him. However, the main accused managed to give the slip.”

It is not known how many pangolins had been killed to get the scales, but according to the DFO at least four to five pangolins must have been killed to get these scales.

According to forest department officials, most of the pangolin scales are smuggled to China through several routes.

(Source: The Hindustan Times)