Eight arrested for elephant ivory smuggling in Kerala

In Kerala, India, officials recently carried out an undercover operation to stop a smuggling ring that was trading in elephant ivory. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) disguised themselves as buyers and targeted a store called Light Palace in Edakkara. During the raid on Wednesday, the DRI seized two large pieces of ivory hidden in a sack. The total weight of the ivory was over 31 kg. Eight people were arrested, including the store owner Kabir and his son Rizwan K. Naushad. Other suspects included Arun, Fadilur Rahman, Abdul Salam, S. Gokul, and Manoj. The operation involved around 15 DRI agents from multiple cities, along with staff from local forest departments. The suspects were caught while trying to sell the illegal ivory. After the raid, they were taken for medical exams before being handed over to the Forest Department. The suspects are now being interrogated at the Nilambur Divisional Forest Officer’s office. Investigators expect to provide more details as the case unfolds, according to Nilambur North DFO P. Karthik.