IN a significant breakthrough against wildlife crime, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Nagpur Regional Unit (NaRU) under the Mumbai Zonal Unit, has successfully dismantled an illegal trafficking syndicate dealing in Indian pangolin scales. Acting on intelligence inputs, officials conducted a targeted operation in Jagdalpur city, Chhattisgarh, leading to the apprehension of three individuals allegedly involved in the illicit trade. Authorities recovered a substantial quantity—16.528 kg—of Indian pangolin scales from their possession. The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), a highly endangered species, is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting it the highest level of legal protection. Trade in pangolins or their derivatives is strictly prohibited under the Act. Consequently, the recovered scales were seized in accordance with legal provisions.

 

Following the completion of seizure formalities, both the accused and the confiscated wildlife contraband were handed over to the Forest Range Officer, Jagdalpur Range, for further action under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. Pangolins continue to be among the most trafficked mammals globally, driven by demand for their meat and scales—often falsely believed to possess medicinal value in certain traditional medicine markets, as well as in luxury fashion. This sustained demand has led to the proliferation of organized poaching and transnational trafficking networks. The latest operation adds to a series of successful crackdowns by DRI NaRU since 2025. These include busting a leopard skin trafficking syndicate in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh; uncovering a network in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, linked to the killing of a tiger cub and attempted trade of its body parts; dismantling another leopard skin racket in Bhopal; and exposing a pangolin scale trafficking operation in Pileru, Andhra Pradesh. These coordinated enforcement efforts highlight DRI’s continued vigilance and commitment to protecting India’s wildlife. Working closely with State Forest Departments and other enforcement agencies, DRI remains steadfast in its mission to combat organized environmental crime through intelligence-driven operations.