The Special Task Force of the Crime Branch on Tuesday seized a leopard skin and arrested one person in Koraput district on the charge of smuggling wildlife body parts.
The arrested smuggler was identified as Mana Gouda, a resident of Goudaguda village under the Baipariguda police station in Koraput.
Based on information that a deal would be struck for wildlife body parts, a team of STF conducted a raid with the help of Ramgir forest officials near Ramgir Gupteswar Gate under Ramagiri Wildlife Range under the Baipariguda police station.
Gouda was arrested as he could not produce any authority in support of possession of the leopard skin, for which was handed over to Ramgir forest officials under the Jeypore Forest Division for legal action at their end.
From 2020, the STF in the special drive against illegal wildlife trade has seized as many as 30 leopard skins and arrested 43 wildlife criminals, the STF said.