Six individuals were arrested near Coimbatore for attempting to smuggle elephant ivory. The operation was intercepted on May 30 in Thudiyalur.
Coimbatore: In a significant crackdown, six people were arrested by the Forest Department near Coimbatore for attempting to smuggle elephant ivory. Acting on a tip-off, Forest Department officials formed teams to track vehicles suspected of carrying the ivory through Mettupalayam road to Coimbatore.
On May 30, one of the teams spotted a suspicious Bolero Jeep in Thudiyalur and attempted to intercept it. However, the suspects rammed into a Forest Department vehicle and tried to escape through Pannimadai route.
Other teams were promptly informed and chased down the Jeep. It was eventually halted near Thadagam Veerapandi area. Searches revealed that a woman, along with five others, was involved in transporting the ivory from the Nilgiris district, intending to sell it to a buyer in Coimbatore. Upon interception, they discarded the ivory near the roadside in an attempt to escape.
Further investigations by the Forest Department led to the recovery of ivory hidden inside the Jeep’s engine compartment. Sarvesh from Coimbatore Keeranatham, Sangeetha from Gudalur Pidarkadu, Vignesh from Coimbatore Edayarpalayam, Loganathan from Vellalore, Arul Arokiyam, and Palamurugan from Nagamanaickenpalayam were arrested. They were later presented at the Coimbatore Integrated Court and remanded to Coimbatore Central Prison.
The Forest Department continues its investigation to ascertain the origins of the ivory, potential buyers, and the backgrounds of those arrested.
On May 30, one of the teams spotted a suspicious Bolero Jeep in Thudiyalur and attempted to intercept it. However, the suspects rammed into a Forest Department vehicle and tried to escape through Pannimadai route.
Other teams were promptly informed and chased down the Jeep. It was eventually halted near Thadagam Veerapandi area. Searches revealed that a woman, along with five others, was involved in transporting the ivory from the Nilgiris district, intending to sell it to a buyer in Coimbatore. Upon interception, they discarded the ivory near the roadside in an attempt to escape.
Further investigations by the Forest Department led to the recovery of ivory hidden inside the Jeep’s engine compartment. Sarvesh from Coimbatore Keeranatham, Sangeetha from Gudalur Pidarkadu, Vignesh from Coimbatore Edayarpalayam, Loganathan from Vellalore, Arul Arokiyam, and Palamurugan from Nagamanaickenpalayam were arrested. They were later presented at the Coimbatore Integrated Court and remanded to Coimbatore Central Prison.
The Forest Department continues its investigation to ascertain the origins of the ivory, potential buyers, and the backgrounds of those arrested.