**Summary of Joint CBI-DRI Action Against Wildlife Trafficking Racket**
On July 9, 2026, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, supported by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of Mumbai and Kolkata, successfully dismantled an interstate wildlife trafficking syndicate. The joint operation targeted multiple locations across Maharashtra and West Bengal following intelligence regarding the illegal trade of protected species.
**Key Rescue and Arrest Data:**
* **Total Animals/Birds Rescued:** 53
* 15 Slow Loris
* 2 Binturong
* 28 Star Tortoises
* 6 Egyptian Vultures
* 2 Shikra birds
* **Legal Status:** All rescued species are listed under Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, representing the highest level of legal protection in India.
* **Total Arrests:** 06 accused persons
* 03 arrested in Mumbai
* 03 arrested in Kolkata
**Legal and Operational Details:**
The CBI registered two separate cases on July 7 and 8, 2026, under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and Criminal Conspiracy under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Investigations revealed that the specimens were sourced from various parts of India for commercial trading. Following the operation, the recovered wildlife was transferred to the forest departments of Maharashtra and West Bengal for safe custody and handling. The investigation remains ongoing.
**Contact and Source Information:**
* **Source:** Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
* **PIB Mumbai Representatives:** Sriyanka Chatterjee / Priti Malandkar
* **Release ID:** 2282988
* **Official Email:** pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com
* **Social Media Handles:** @PIBMumbai (X/Twitter), /PIBMumbai (Facebook/YouTube), /pibmumbai (Instagram)
Key Entities Referenced
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: The primary legal framework under which the rescued species are protected and the basis for the criminal cases registered against the traffickers.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI): Lead law enforcement agency that conducted the joint operation and registered cases to disrupt the wildlife trafficking syndicate.
Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI): Enforcement agency that provided specific intelligence and co-led the joint operation against the interstate wildlife trade syndicate.
Maharashtra and West Bengal: The primary locations of the joint enforcement action where the accused were arrested and the rescued wildlife was transferred to state forest departments.
Ministry of Finance
CBI-DRI Joint Action Busts Wildlife Trafficking
Racket
53 Protected Animals/ Birds Rescued, 06 Accused Arrested
प्रव तथ: 09 JUL 2026 6:49PM by PIB Mumbai
New Delhi/Mumbai : 9 July 2026
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and DRI, Mumbai, in a joint operation,
with support from Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Mumbai/Kolkata, have
recovered and rescued 15 Slow Loris, 2 Binturong, 28 Star Tortoises, 6 Egyptian
Vultures and 2 Shikra birds. These animals and birds are listed under Schedule-I of
the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with the highest level of protection in India.
The joint action was conducted at multiple locations in Maharashtra and West
Bengal, based on specific intelligence developed by DRI Mumbai about an interstate
crime syndicate involved in the trade of wildlife protected under the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972.
The CBI registered two separate cases on 7th and 8th July, 2026 and three accused
persons have been arrested in Mumbai, and three others arrested in Kolkata.
The case was registered under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
and Criminal Conspiracy under Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The animals and birds
were sourced by the accused from various parts of India for trading. After the initial
proceedings, the wildlife was handed over to the forest departments of Maharashtra
and West Bengal, respectively, for safe custody and handling of the recovered
wildlife species.
This joint action demonstrates collaboration between the two law enforcement
agencies to disrupt wildlife trafficking networks and proactively enforce the Wildlife
Protection Act.
The investigation of the case is ongoing.
Source: CBI
PIB Mumbai | Sriyanka Chatterjee/ Priti Malandkar
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