Rajkot, Oct 26 (NationPress) The Rajkot Special Operations Group (SOG) in Gujarat has successfully dismantled a network engaged in the illicit trade of rare pangolins valued at Rs 22 crore. This gang was reportedly involved in smuggling these endangered creatures from the Gir forest area and was attempting to sell them in major urban centers.

Acting on a tip-off, the SOG conducted a rapid operation, resulting in the arrest of three individuals, including the primary suspect, Bijal alias Vijay Jeeva Solanki. Investigations indicated that while one of the accused estimated the value of a pangolin at Rs 25 lakh, the ringleader was attempting to sell it for a staggering Rs 22 crore.

After the arrests, both the suspects and the rescued pangolin—protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act—were handed over to the Forest Department.

Officials, including RFO B.B. Wala and ACF Chirag Chandgude, have initiated inquiries to ascertain the number of pangolins previously sold and the prices at which they were traded. The court has granted a four-day remand for additional investigation.

This significant breakthrough followed police surveillance of a suspicious individual in Rajkot, leading to the discovery of videos and messages related to pangolin sales on his mobile device. The investigation subsequently led officers to a farm near the Ghantwad forest, where the suspects were apprehended while attempting to conduct the trade.

This operation represents the state’s first major collaborative effort between police and forest authorities to combat pangolin smuggling. Pangolins, often referred to as anteaters, are characterized by their tough scales and unique ability to curl into an armoured ball when threatened.

Widely regarded as the most trafficked mammals globally, pangolins face high demand in countries such as China and Vietnam, where their scales and body parts are erroneously believed to possess medicinal or rejuvenating properties. Despite being protected under both international and national wildlife legislation, thousands of pangolins are illegally captured from forests across Africa and Asia each year and trafficked across borders for lucrative trade.

This illegal trafficking endangers their survival and disrupts ecosystems, given that pangolins play a vital role in controlling insect populations. Global conservation organizations have consistently raised concerns regarding the magnitude of this crisis, advocating for stricter enforcement, cross-border monitoring, and public awareness initiatives to combat illegal trade and safeguard these unique, armoured mammals from extinction.