Bhubaneswar: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha police have arrested retired forest personnel and seized deer skin, one Turtle scale, one boar tusk and narcotics drugs from him, the STF said on Monday.
According to STF, on the basis of intelligence input, a raid was conducted by a team of STF-BBSR with the help of Boudh district police on Sunday on Charichhak-Phulbani road.
During the raid, the STF officials apprehended one Sanatan Pradhan who was previously working in the Forest Department and had taken VRS in the year 2008.
During the house search of the accused, one deer skin, one Turtle scale, one boar tusk and other incriminating materials were found from him.
The accused person could not produce any valid authority in support of the possession of such wildlife products, for which he was registered under the Wildlife Act under section 379/411 IPC r/w. Sec. 51 Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
STF sources further said the accused was also found involved in illegal possession of narcotics and during the search contraband Opium weighing two Kg 880 grams, Ganja Powder three Kgs 810 grams, Ganja Cigarette 60 Packets and other incriminating materials were recovered and seized from him.
He was arrested and will be forwarded to the court of District & Sessions cum Spl. Judge, Boudh. The STF had also registered another case under section 18 (b)/20(b) (II)(B) of NDPS Act 1985.
The STF has seized more than 72 Kg of Brown Sugar/Heroin, 202 Gram Cocaine and more than 116 quintals of Ganja/Marijuana, 3 kg 650 gram opium including Monday’s seizure and arrested more than 179 drug dealers/peddlers in the state since 2020.
