A MULTI-AGENCY wildlife enforcement operation spearheaded by the Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) has detained six suspects, rescued two live pangolins and recovered suspected tiger remains during a crackdown along the Maharashtra-Telangana border. The intelligence-led operation, conducted on September 26 in the Zimela-Allapalli region, brought together USTR’s AntiPoaching Unit, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Western Region, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Madhya Pradesh-Chhattisgarh, and Allapalli Forest Division. Six persons were detained during coordinated action covering Zimela, Allapalli, Kokopada, Gomnitola and Konsari areas in Maharashtra. Among the significant recoveries were two live pangolins, described as a mother and its young. The task force also recovered 43 bones suspected to be of tiger origin, two suspected tiger canines and three motorcycles allegedly used for transporting wildlife contraband. The biological material has been preserved for forensic examination to establish species identity.

 

A Preliminary Offence Report (POR) has been registered at Allapalli Forest Range and further investigation is underway. The crackdown forms part of ‘Operation Safe Passage 3.0’, developed following intelligence gathering across the Aheri-Sironcha-JinganoorBijapur belt to identify wildlife trafficking routes and those operating along them. Earlier phases of Safe Passage targeted trafficking networks across the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh and Chhattisgarh-Odisha corridors, resulting in arrests and seizures of tiger skins, a tiger carcass and pangolin scales. The latest action has also been aligned with the international ‘Operation Thunder 2026’ framework against wildlife and forestry crime coordinated by INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO). Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap commended the participating agencies, particularly USTR’s intelligence network, for the coordinated interstate operation and rescue of live wildlife before it could allegedly enter trafficking channels. Investigators are now working to trace the wider supply chain and determine the roles of suspected poachers, handlers, transporters and traders connected with the seized wildlife material.