Mumbai, April 25 (NationPress): In a significant crackdown on wildlife trafficking, the Chembur Police arrested four individuals on April 22, 2025, for allegedly attempting to illegally sell elephant tusks valued at approximately Rs 3.5 crore in Mumbai's RC Marg area. The operation, executed by the Crime Detection Unit (CDU), was triggered by a credible tip-off about an active illegal ivory trade network operating in the city.

How the Sting Operation Unfolded

Acting on specific intelligence, the Crime Detection Unit meticulously planned a trap at a hotel on RC Marg, Chembur. Informants were deployed to pose as prospective buyers and negotiate a deal with the accused. A room was booked at a local lodging facility where the suspects agreed to deliver the contraband ivory for the transaction.

Once informants signalled that the accused had arrived with the goods, the police team swiftly raided the hotel room. Officers found four individuals inside, with two ivory tusk-like objects placed openly on the bed — a brazen display that underscored the confidence of the traffickers.

The Accused and Seized Contraband

The four arrested individuals have been identified as Akash Ashok Avhad (28), Sandip Randhir Bidlan (33), Shashank Chandrashekhar Ranjankar (38), and Dinesh Rammanohar Agnivanshi (40). Officials from the Maharashtra Forest Department were immediately summoned to the scene and prima facie confirmed that the seized items were genuine elephant tusks.

The seized contraband comprised two elephant tusks weighing approximately 11 kg and 20.6 kg respectively, along with bags and packing materials used for transportation. Police also recovered four mobile phones from the accused, which are expected to yield crucial leads about the wider trafficking network.

Legal Action and Charges Filed

All seized items were formally seized and sealed following prescribed legal procedure. The accused were taken into custody and brought to the Chembur Police Station for further legal proceedings.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, including Sections 9, 39, 44, 48, 50, and 51. These sections collectively address the prohibition on hunting protected animals, possession of wildlife products, and illegal trade in scheduled species — offences that can carry imprisonment of up to seven years.

Wider Pattern of Ivory Trafficking in India

This arrest is not an isolated incident but part of a deeply troubling pattern of wildlife crime across India. Notably, in February 2025, the Poojappura Police in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, launched a separate investigation into the alleged theft of two elephant tusks worth Rs 2 crore from the Pangode Military Station — with a suspected connection to a DJ party held at the premises, raising serious questions about internal security protocols.

India's elephant population, already under pressure from habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict, faces an additional existential threat from poaching for ivory. According to wildlife conservation data, India is among the top five countries globally for elephant poaching incidents. The ivory black market remains lucrative, with tusks fetching anywhere between Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per kilogram on the underground market — making the Rs 3.5 crore valuation in this case consistent with prevailing illegal rates.

Investigation Ongoing: Tracing the Supply Chain

Authorities are now focused on tracing the origin of the tusks — whether from poached wild elephants or from stolen temple/forest department stockpiles — and identifying other members of the trafficking syndicate. The four mobile phones recovered from the accused are being forensically examined to map the communication network.

The Maharashtra Forest Department is expected to play a central role in the ongoing probe, alongside the police. Wildlife trafficking syndicates in India are known to operate across state lines, often with links to international smuggling routes through Southeast Asia and Africa.

As the investigation deepens, authorities are likely to pursue leads that could expose a far larger interstate or even transnational ivory smuggling operation — making this Mumbai bust a potentially pivotal moment in India's fight against organised wildlife crime.