Overview
- The finance ministry said on Monday the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence recovered more than 440 endangered animals, about 15 kg of elephant ivory and arrested 33 people in coordinated operations.
- A joint DRI–CBI operation on July 7–8 across Maharashtra and West Bengal rescued 15 slow lorises, two binturongs, 28 star tortoises and other protected species and produced six CBI arrests.
- DRI officers intercepted around 11 kg of ivory near Sujangarh on July 10, seized about 4 kg in Mysuru and recovered two ivory idols in Howrah, with those suspects handed to forest departments.
- Customs airport intelligence units foiled multiple attempts to smuggle live exotic pets and reptiles from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo, seizing gibbons, pythons, tortoises and other protected species.
- Authorities said cases will be prosecuted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Foreign Trade Policy ivory bans, and that ongoing CBI investigations aim to dismantle the organised trafficking networks behind these seizures.