The Special Task Force (STF) of Crime Branch on Saturday busted a pangolin smuggling racket in Udala in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
Acting on a tip-off about the racket, a team of STF conducted the raid and arrested four persons in this connection. While the accused were making deal to sell the two pangolins (a female pangolin and its baby) at a whopping Rs 22 lakh to a wildlife mafia.
Two pangolins weighing around 13 kg each were recovered from their possession
The accused were identified as Debendra Das from Balasore district,Balia Andhara Judia of Udala area, Janmenjay Nayak and Raghunath Behera of Kaptipada in Mayurbhanj district.
A case has been registered at Udala Police station as per the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the accused will be produced in the court today
