Pune, August 21, 2023: In a meticulously planned operation, the Pune Customs (Preventive HQ) has successfully dismantled a wildlife smuggling gang that was operating with impunity. Acting on actionable intelligence, customs officials swiftly moved to apprehend the criminal syndicate in Satara.
The central focus of the operation was a prized leopard skin, a product of the gang’s illicit activities. On the morning of August 18, 2023, a team of dedicated Pune Customs officers descended upon Satara, executing a search operation at what appeared to be an ordinary dairy shop. However, behind the facade, the shop was suspected to be a front for the gang’s illegal wildlife trade. The thorough search of the premises led to the discovery of a hidden leopard skin, a stark evidence of their criminal endeavors.
Despite the fact that one member of the gang had managed to evade capture and flee to Dubai, authorities apprehended another key member who was actively participating in the illicit activities from within the dairy shop. Subsequent investigations have revealed that the gang was in the process of finding an international buyer for the leopard skin, intending to smuggle it out of the country.
The arrested individual is currently in custody and has been presented before the Satara Court. Legal proceedings are underway as the suspect remains in judicial custody. The seized leopard skin, confiscated under the provisions of Section 110 of the Customs Act, 1962, and Section 50 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (amended), will serve as crucial evidence in prosecuting the culprits involved in this illegal trade.
