CBI arrests wildlife contraband dealer

New Delhi: The CBI has arrested an alleged wildlife contraband dealer who was intercepted with over seven kg of tiger bones in his possession, officials said.

The CBI acted after receiving information that Mangal Lama from Nepal was allegedly indulging in illegal trafficking of wildlife material especially skins, bones, body parts, and their derivatives and was looking for customers for tiger bones, they said.

After verifying the information, a team under Vijay Kumar Singh, Inspector, the Economic Offences in the CBI, was constituted to take further action.

Further inputs were received that Lama will be going to Indian Oil Petrol Pump, Libaspur, New Delhi, near the service lane of NH-1 to sell body parts of tiger to an unidentified person.

The team swooped down at the location and laid a trap for Lama who arrived allegedly carrying the parts in a big trolly bag for its delivery.

It was observed that he started to move from the location, when the agency officials intercepted him. After due process on the spot, he was asked to open the bag in which some bones were found.

The CBI brought Lama to its headquarters following initial questioning where he was taken into custody by the agency.

He was questioned about the source of bones but he did not cooperate, the agency alleged in its FIR.

“However, he admitted that the bones/body parts recovered from him are of tiger and his knowledge towards the fact that possession of the same is an offence under the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972.

He further admitted that he was indulged in this illegal activity and doing this illegal act to earn illegal money for his personal gain,” the agency alleged.