📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Stockholm Pride
Crime
DRI Confiscates 14.68 kg of Pangolin Scales in Ri‑Bhoi, Meghalaya
✍️ Hub News
🗓 10 Sep 2026, 02:37 PM
👁 20
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence seized 14.68 kilograms of pangolin scales during a raid in Ri‑Bhoi district, Meghalaya, highlighting ongoing wildlife‑trafficking concerns.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted a surprise operation in Ri‑Bhoi district of Meghalaya on Monday, recovering 14.68 kilograms of pangolin scales. The seized material, weighing close to 15 kg, is believed to be intended for illegal export to international markets where pangolin products fetch high prices.
According to the DRI statement, the raid was part of a broader crackdown on wildlife trafficking in the Northeast region. Investigators traced the shipment to a local storage unit, where the scales were packed in multiple boxes. No arrests were reported at the time, but the agency said further inquiries are underway to identify the supply chain.
Pangolins are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting them the highest level of protection in India. The seizure underscores the persistent demand for their scales in traditional medicine and luxury goods, prompting authorities to intensify surveillance and enforcement.
The DRI has urged the public to report any suspicious activity related to wildlife products and reiterated its commitment to curbing illegal trade that threatens endangered species.
According to the DRI statement, the raid was part of a broader crackdown on wildlife trafficking in the Northeast region. Investigators traced the shipment to a local storage unit, where the scales were packed in multiple boxes. No arrests were reported at the time, but the agency said further inquiries are underway to identify the supply chain.
Pangolins are listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting them the highest level of protection in India. The seizure underscores the persistent demand for their scales in traditional medicine and luxury goods, prompting authorities to intensify surveillance and enforcement.
The DRI has urged the public to report any suspicious activity related to wildlife products and reiterated its commitment to curbing illegal trade that threatens endangered species.