Bhubaneswar, October 11:The Rayagada Forest Department has seized 1,130 pangolin scales weighing 4.56 kg and arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in wildlife trafficking in Rayagada.

Acting on a tip-off, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sachin Anna Saheb Ahole directed a special team to conduct a raid. On Sunday, forest personnel raided an open field near the Collectorate, where the accused were allegedly negotiating a deal to smuggle the pangolin scales.

The arrested persons have been identified as Jagan Himirika of Panasput village and Nilambar Khosla and Purushottam Khosla, both residents of Kumbikota under Sadar block. Two motorcycles allegedly used in the illegal operation were also seized.

According to Range Officer Anil Kumar Panigrahi, a case has been registered against the accused under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. They were produced before a court and subsequently remanded to judicial custody.

Preliminary interrogation suggested that the pangolins had been poached locally within the Rayagada forest range. While three alleged operatives have been apprehended, the suspected mastermind behind the smuggling network managed to escape.

Forest officials said an intensive investigation was underway to trace and apprehend the absconding suspect and uncover further details of the illegal wildlife trade.

The raid was carried out by a team comprising Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Satish Kumar Dharua, Range Officer Anil Kumar Panigrahi, Forester Gouri Shankar Sahu, Forest Guard Santosh Kumar Panigrahi, and Rayagada parasquad members Surya Narayan Miniaka and Balaram Swain.