‘Had they crossed the border, they’d vanish into black markets’: MP Tiger Force busts gang smuggling baby gharials, turtles to Bangladesh; 3 arrested

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh’s Special Tiger Strike Force (STSF) has busted an international smuggling racket and rescued a consignment of endangered aquatic species, including 30 baby gharials, that were allegedly being trafficked to Bangladesh through a cross-border network.The operation was led by senior wildlife officers following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering.Acting on specific inputs, STSF teams from Bhopal and Shivpuri intercepted a Hyundai car on the Sabalgarh–Morena road near Jora on the evening of July 12, under the guidance of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Madhya Pradesh.Inside the vehicle, officials found 30 baby gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) and 14 red-crowned roofed turtles (Batagur kachuga), all protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act. The reptiles were packed into makeshift containers and being transported in violation of national and international wildlife laws. The three occupants of the car were arrested on the spot.The arrested individuals have been identified as Raju Adivasi, son of Jagdish, resident of Mauranipur in Uttar Pradesh; Vijay Gaur, son of Shashikant Gaur, resident of Barrack Quarter in Thatipur, Gwalior; and Ramveer Singh, son of Shiv Singh Baghel, a resident of Surya Vihar Colony, Pintu Park, Gwalior. All three men have prior wildlife crime records and are believed to be part of a larger network involving local poachers, transport agents, and international buyers.Following their interrogation, the STSF launched a follow-up raid in Gwalior in the early hours of July 13, where 3 more red-crowned roofed turtles and 19 three-striped roofed turtles (Batagur dhongoka) were recovered. In total, 66 live animals were seized from the accused in a two-phase operation.A forest crime case (No. 237/20, dated July 12, 2025) was registered by the STSF Shivpuri unit. Local police and the Morena Forest Division assisted in the operation. The accused were produced before the forest court in Shivpuri and have been remanded to custody for further interrogation.Initial investigations indicate that the animals were poached from the National Chambal Sanctuary, a protected riverine ecosystem that spans parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The reptiles were reportedly being smuggled to Bangladesh and routed further into illegal wildlife markets across Southeast Asia. According to officials, the rescued species are highly sought after in foreign markets, particularly in Europe and parts of Asia, where they are used for exotic pet trade and traditional medicine.“This case isn’t just about one vehicle or three suspects. It is part of a structured, transnational wildlife trafficking network that exploits India’s endangered species for profit,” said a senior officer involved in the operation. “Had these animals made it across the border, they would likely have vanished into global black markets.”All three rescued species — the gharial, red-crowned roofed turtle, and three-striped roofed turtle — are listed as critically endangered or vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and are protected under both Indian law and the international CITES convention. These species play a crucial ecological role in maintaining healthy river systems, and their declining populations have raised alarms among conservationists, say officials. The rescued animals are currently undergoing medical evaluation and care by wildlife veterinarians. Once stable, they will be released back into secure stretches of the Chambal River.The case is expected to trigger wider coordination between Indian enforcement agencies and international wildlife crime units, including INTERPOL and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. Forensic analysis of seized mobile devices, communication logs, and transport records is underway, and further arrests are likely as the investigation expands.