DRI Officers intercept Illegal Elephant Tusk Trade in Bengaluru; 7 accused arrested

In a meticulously planned operation, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) officers in Bengaluru busted a syndicate’s efforts to illegally trade elephant tusks, classified under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The arrest of three suspects in an auto rickshaw on 05/06.03.2024 resulted in the recovery of ivory tusks hidden in a huge bag in their possession. Furthermore, quick action resulted in the arrest of four more accomplices involved in the illegal trade.

The two elephant tusks, weighing a total of 6.8 kg, were retrieved and seized under Section 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) of 1972. Seven individuals have been arrested.

DRI officers, who are already at the forefront of anti-smuggling and counter-trafficking actions across international borders, have been given greater powers to combat the domestic illegal wildlife trade under recent modifications to the Wildlife Protection Act, which go into effect on April 1, 2023.

Using these new regulations, DRI officials are actively involved in operations to intercept illegally traded wildlife products. In financial year 2023-2024, DRI units across India successfully seized six elephant tusks weighing a total of 57.5 kilograms.

These raids were carried out in Chennai, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, highlighting DRI’s unwavering commitment to combating wildlife trafficking.