India: A joint team of the Bengal Crime Investigation Department (CID) and the Border Security Force (BSF) arrested three men from Barasat in North 24 Parganas district on Tuesday, and seized snake venom .

Officials said the venom was meant to be smuggled to China through Bangladesh in three inconspicuous jars. The arrested people were identified as Narayan Das (26) from Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas; Debojyoti Bose (43), a resident of Tollygunge in Kolkata; and Buddhadev Khanra (40), who hails from Jadavpur in south Kolkata.

According to the CID, the three are part of an international gang that smuggles snake venom to the neighbouring country. Animal parts and illegal wildlife products fetch a hefty price in the Chinese black market.

The forest department has taken possession of the venom, and launched an official probe into the incident.

This is the fourth instance of the contraband being confiscated by the BSF at the Bengal-Bangladesh border since January 2017. All the previous seizures were made in Malda district.

The Sashastra Seema Bal and the Customs department had also carried out a major operation in Siliguri this May, resulting in the arrest of two people.

(Source:The Hindustan Times)