Key Takeaways
- The STF arrested a retired forest worker for illegal possession of wildlife items.
- Authorities seized a deer skin, turtle scale and boar tusk during the raid.
- The accused faced charges under the Wildlife Protection Act and was linked to large narcotics seizures.
Bhubaneswar: The STF of Odisha police have arrested a retired forest personnel and seized deer skin , one Turtle scale, one boar tusk and contraband from him.
STF sources here on Monday said 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 person , one deer skin , one Turtle scale and one boar tusk and other incriminating materials were found from him.
The accused person could not produce any valid authority in support of possession of such wildlife products, for which he was registered under 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 search contraband Opium weighing two Kg 880 gram, Ganja Powder three Kgs 810 gram, 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 section18(b)/20(b) (II)(B) of NDPS Act 1985.
The STF has seized **more than 72 Kg of brown sugar/heroin**, **202 g of cocaine**, and **over 116 quintals of Ganja/Marijuana**.
It also recovered **3 kg 650 g of opium** in Monday’s seizure and has **arrested more than 179 drug dealers/peddlers** in Odisha since 2020.
