India: THE Special Task Force of Crime Branch has tightened its grip on smugglers of pangolin scales in the State with the arrest of one more person involved in the crime. He has been identified as Riyazuddin of Surada in Ganjam district.

The STF officers had earlier arrested wanted wildlife smuggler Allarukha Khan, who was wanted in two cases at Balaghat and Pench Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. The officers informed that Allarukha was also involved in smuggling wildlife trophies and liasioning with inter-State criminals.

Allarukha’s father, Shamsuddin Khan of Dakhinaparikheta village, was arrested on June 18 with 5 kg pangolin scales in Nayagarh. Shamsuddin alias Shamu has been taken on a 6-day-remand and during interrogation extracted information Riyazuddin and his involvement in smuggling of pangolin scales.

“We have traced at least 15 bank accounts of Riyazuddin and are verifying the financial transactions carried out through his bank accounts,” STF SP Dr Satyajit Naik said. Sources said the investigators have also found out that money was transferred to Riyazuddin’s bank accounts from some other States, and verification was on.

According to STF officers, the smugglers were purchasing one kg pangolin scales from poachers for at least ` 12,500. The racket is operating at the inter-State, national and international levels. Pangolin scales are illegally sold for medicinal purpose, and making ornaments which have a very high demand in China.
“The pangolin scales are being mostly smuggled from forest areas of Raigarh, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Khurda, Ganjam and Phulbani. We have busted the inter-State racket and further probe is on,” Naik said. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Police are questioning Shamsuddin at STF office in the Capital in connection with the crime.

Basing on Shamsuddin’s revelations, a team of STF team left for Mizoram to nab a man for his alleged involvement in smuggling pangolin scales in Odisha. “The team nabbed Shamsuddin’s associate, but he is yet to be arrested as he has high blood pressure,” a STF officer said. “We will be able to share more information, once the man is arrested and produced in a court there for bringing him on transit remand to Odisha,” he added.

Four years back, a STF operating Chief Wildlife Warden of Madhya Pradesh had busted a poaching and smuggling gang which not only was involved in inter-State illegal trade of wildlife articles but also had international links. Shamsuddin was wanted in connection with the gang, but he had managed to give the cops a slip.

(Source: The Indian Express)