A gang involved in illegal trade of the organs of pangolin and other wildlife through online platform YouTube has been exposed by taking action under the Operation Wildnet.

The Special Task Strike Force (Wildlife) and Tiger Strike Force Indore and Sagar took action in Ujjain and Shivpuri, arresting 3 accused with 2.7 k.g. of pangolin scales. The case was registered after confiscating scales of pangolin and 2 pieces of ornaments made of elephant tusk.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) said that this was the first case registered in the state, in which gangs were smuggling wildlife organs in the state and outside the state, using the social media platform YouTube.

The Forest Cyber Cell constituted under the Special Task Force (Wildlife), while investigating the case, found that illegal trade was being carried out by the gang by making and uploading videos related to wildlife, in which people got involved in this criminal act because of greed/ superstition and the number of such persons also continued to increase.

Taking cognizance of this, immediately notice was issued to the headquarters of YouTube in India and US and they have been urged to take appropriate action in connection with the criminal act. YouTube has also been made accused for not taking timely action. At the request of the Special Task Force (Wildlife), keeping in view the seriousness of the criminal act of illegal trade of wildlife organs and complete ban of such act in India, the suspicious above mentioned video and link have been removed and blocked by the YouTube.

In Telangana state, 10 accused were arrested and the case has been registered by the Special Task Force (Wildlife) through local agency against the gang involved. Continuous action is being taken against the gangs involved in the illegal trade of wildlife organs through social media platforms.