Smuggled animal parts, corals seized in Amritsar

Amritsar, July 5

Acting on a tip-off, the Forest Department and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau have confiscated a huge quantity of smuggled wildlife parts and endangered corals from a godown at Majitha Mandi.

The godown owner has been identified as Simer Lugani. While officials arrested his servant Ramchain on Thursday, Lugani is on the run.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Amneet Singh said, “We never expected such a huge quantity of seizure of wildlife parts. This is a well-oiled nexus.”

The seizure was made under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The team seized 38 suspected bear biles, 158 genitals of monitor lizards, 1.49 kg of organ pipe corals, 69 sea fan corals, 4.814 kg of gorgonians (corals), 400 freezed sandfish skinks and exotic species smuggled from West Asia. “Unfortunately, all these things are used in superstitions. Thus, they are smuggled into India,” said the DFO.