The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), a federal anti-smuggling agency under the Ministry of Finance, has dismantled illegal wildlife trafficking operations across Maharashtra, seizing protected animal products and arresting 11 people. The enforcement actions targeted networks attempting to buy and sell elephant ivory, leopard skin, live pangolins and tiger body parts, all of which are prohibited under Indian wildlife laws.
Key facts
- Four elephant ivory articles (including carved pieces) recovered in first operation; three persons arrested
- One leopard skin seized near Purada village, Gondia district on 29 September 2026; two persons arrested
- Two live pangolins (one adult, one baby), 3 kg tiger bones and two tiger canines seized in joint operation on 26-27 September 2026; six persons arrested
- Total arrests: 11 people across three operations
- Joint operation included DRI, Forest Department, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) Mumbai and USTR Anti-Poaching Unit
- Location of major operation: Allapalli forest area, Maharashtra
- Two motorcycles used for illegal transport also seized
What is illegal under Indian law
The seized items violate the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, India’s primary law protecting endangered species. Elephant ivory possession and trade are prohibited under Section 49B of this Act. Leopards, tigers and pangolins are all listed under Schedule I, which means they receive the highest protection. This means trade, possession, transportation and killing of these animals or their body parts without a licence is a criminal offence.
Pangolins have additional protection under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species), an international agreement that bans their cross-border trade entirely. Tigers similarly cannot be legally traded in any form, including bones, canines, skin or organs.
How the operations unfolded
In the first operation, DRI officers used a decoy purchase to target ivory smugglers. Acting on tip-offs, they posed as buyers interested in four elephant tusks and carved ivory items. When the transaction was about to occur, officers intercepted the sellers and seized the ivory articles.
The second operation involved surveillance of suspected wildlife traders. On 29 September 2026, DRI personnel stopped two men near Purada village in Gondia district who were carrying a freshly killed leopard skin, apparently preparing to sell it.
The third and largest operation was a coordinated action between multiple agencies. On 26-27 September 2026, teams from DRI, the Maharashtra Forest Department, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the USTR Anti-Poaching Unit jointly raided the Allapalli forest area. They detained six suspects and recovered two live pangolins, tiger skeletal material and tiger teeth. Investigators also found evidence of poaching, illegal possession and plans to sell tiger parts. Two motorcycles used to transport the contraband were also seized.
What happens after arrest
In all three cases, the arrested persons and seized materials were handed over to the relevant Forest Range Officers for further criminal investigation and prosecution under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. This means the cases will now proceed through forest department enquiries and potentially to court, where the accused face criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment.
What this means for you
These operations signal that India’s wildlife enforcement agencies are actively tracking and disrupting illegal trade networks. If you encounter trade in wildlife products, you can report it to the local forest department, DRI or the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. Buying, selling or possessing any part of a Schedule I animal, including ivory, tiger bones, pangolins or leopard skin, is illegal and can result in criminal prosecution and significant penalties. Even items sold as “antiques” or “traditional medicine” are subject to these laws if they contain protected wildlife material.
Why this matters
Wildlife trafficking is a major criminal enterprise that fuels poaching and threatens species survival. India hosts populations of elephants, tigers and pangolins that are targets for international smuggling networks supplying illegal markets in Asia and elsewhere. By breaking up trafficking routes at the point of sale and transport, DRI and its partner agencies aim to make the illegal trade harder and riskier, thereby reducing demand for poaching at the source.