The Special Task Force of the Crime Branch conducted a raid near village Brahmanipada under the Chakapada police station in Kandhamal district on Tuesday and seized a leopard skin.
They also nabbed a wildlife criminal. The wildlife smuggler was identified as Birenmitra Nayak of Brahmanipada village under the Chakapada police station in the district.
Based on inputs, a STF team along with Tikabali forest officials conducted a raid. During the search, one leopard skin and other incriminating materials were recovered from his possession.
The accused person could not produce any authority in support of the possession of such leopard skin, for which he has been detained and handed over to Tikabali forest officials under Phulbani Forest Division for necessary legal action at their end, said the STF official.
During the last two years, the STF has intensified its special drive against wildlife criminals and poachers and seized as many as 32 leopard skins and arrested 44 persons in this connection.