2Cr Ivory Seized By DRI Nagpur In Mysuru Raid The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Nagpur unit conducted a raid in Mysuru on Tuesday, dismantling a smuggling network and recovering three large elephant ivory tusks valued at over 2 crore rupees in the international black market. The operation targeted a network involved in trafficking ivory, with officials seizing three curved, off-white tusks of varying sizes. While the exact weight of the tusks was not disclosed, sources noted that such tusks typically range from 5kg to 30kg each. At current black-market rates in India and Asia, raw elephant ivory is priced between 50,000 and 1,50,000 rupees per kilogram, depending on quality, size, and demand. This places the potential value of the seized consignment significantly above 2 crore, marking a major disruption for the smuggling ring. India remains a critical hub for illegal ivory trade, both as a source and transit point. Tusks poached from Asian elephants in regions like Karnataka, Kerala, and Northeast India, or smuggled from Africa, are often routed through Indian cities and ports before being shipped to destinations such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries. These regions are known for carving ivory into luxury items, ornaments, and traditional artifacts despite global bans under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and India’s stringent Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The DRI officials are currently interrogating the arrested suspects and tracing the entire supply chain, including the origins of the poached tusks and their international connections. A source emphasized that the operation underscores the DRI’s commitment to combating organized wildlife crime syndicates that threaten India’s endangered Asian elephant population.#india #mysuru #cites #dri_nagpur #directorate_of_revenue_intelligence
DRI-Nagpur unit seizes 17kg of pangolin scales in Chhattisgarh The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) Nagpur Regional Unit successfully dismantled an inter-state pangolin trafficking syndicate in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, recovering 17kg of pangolin scales. Acting on intelligence, the DRI team, operating under the Mumbai zonal unit, apprehended three individuals involved in the illicit trade on Sunday. The Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata), a critically endangered species, is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Authorities stated that any trade in pangolins or their body parts is strictly prohibited. The seized scales and the arrested individuals were handed over to the Forest Range Officer in Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, for further legal proceedings. This operation marks another significant success for the DRI Nagpur Regional Unit, which has been actively combating wildlife trafficking since 2025. Over the past year, the unit has dismantled multiple syndicates involved in the illegal trade of wildlife products. Notable cases include the seizure of leopard skins from Madhya Pradesh, a tiger cub poaching incident in Seoni, and a pangolin scale racket in Pileru, Andhra Pradesh. These operations highlight the unit’s commitment to enforcing wildlife protection laws and disrupting networks that exploit India’s biodiversity. The pangolin trade remains a critical issue globally, as these animals are highly sought after for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine and as luxury items. The Indian pangolin, in particular, faces severe threats due to habitat loss and poaching. Conservationists emphasize that the illegal trade not only endangers the species but also undermines ecological balance.#dri_nagpur #dri_mumbai #jagdalpur_chhattisgarh #forest_range_officer_jagdalpur #wildlife_protection_act
