In a significant crackdown on wildlife trafficking, forest officials in Chhattisgarh arrested three men for allegedly attempting to smuggle a tiger skin, several kilograms of pangolin scales, and other wildlife body parts. The operation was carried out in Surajpur district just a day before International Tiger Day, highlighting the persistent threat posed by illegal wildlife trade.

The arrests were made during a joint operation conducted by the Chhattisgarh Forest Department and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Central Region, Bhopal. Acting on intelligence received on July 27 regarding a planned wildlife trafficking operation, officials intercepted the suspects at a security checkpoint near Dharsedi Road on the Odgi–Bhaiyathan route.

During the search, authorities recovered one tiger skin, believed to be only a few days old, along with approximately 4–5 kilograms of pangolin scales. The accused have been identified as Tikeshwar Prasad Rajwade (38), Bhukhanlan (55), and Garibalan (56), all residents of the Odgi area in Surajpur district.

Investigators are now trying to determine whether the trio were directly involved in poaching or were acting as intermediaries in a larger wildlife trafficking network. Preliminary interrogation suggests the possible involvement of additional local and interstate traffickers, indicating that the case could expose a wider criminal syndicate.

Officials noted that no tiger has been reported from the Surajpur area in recent times, raising questions about where the animal was killed. Wildlife forensic examinations are expected to help establish the tiger’s origin and identify potential links with other poaching cases.

The seizure also underscores the continuing threat to pangolins, among the world’s most heavily trafficked mammals. Their scales are illegally traded despite strict legal protection under Indian law and international conventions.

According to information presented recently in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, the state has recorded five cases of tiger poaching or trafficking since 2024, leading to the seizure of six tiger skins and the arrest of 41 accused persons. The latest operation demonstrates the increasing vigilance of enforcement agencies but also serves as a reminder that organized wildlife crime remains a major conservation challenge.