Seizures in MP blow lid off global aquatic wildlife trafficking syndicate

Bhopal: What began as a wildlife seizure in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena district has expanded into an international crackdown on a transnational aquatic wildlife trafficking syndicate, with Interpol issuing a red corner notice against a Bangladeshi national accused of smuggling endangered Indian reptile species across South and Southeast Asia.

The red corner notice was issued by Interpol headquarters in France on April 29, 2026, against Al Haj Shafiqul Islam Rahman Talukdar alias Remin Talukdar, following a request made by Madhya Pradesh’s State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) through the central govt.

The breakthrough came during an STSF operation in Morena in July 2025, when officials intercepted three accused allegedly involved in trafficking rare aquatic wildlife species. The team rescued and seized 30 gharial hatchlings (Gavialis gangeticus), 17 red-crowned roofed turtles (Batagur kachuga), and 19 three-striped roofed turtles (Batagur dhongoka). A wildlife offence case was registered on July 12, 2025, and investigations were launched.

During the probe, investigators found that the accused were part of an organised international network engaged in smuggling rare freshwater wildlife species from India through West Bengal into Bangladesh. From there, the animals were allegedly trafficked onward to Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and several other Southeast Asian countries.

Officials said the STSF subsequently expanded its operations into other states and has so far arrested six accused linked to the racket. Among them was Taraknath Ghosh, described by officials as one of the country’s biggest aquatic wildlife smugglers. Ghosh, a resident of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, was arrested by the STSF from Kanpur Central railway station in Uttar Pradesh in March 2026. Officials said several wildlife crime cases had already been registered against him.

Interrogation of the arrested accused, along with scientific and digital evidence collected during the investigation, led officials to identify Talukdar as the alleged mastermind of the international syndicate. Investigators alleged that Talukdar coordinated the trafficking of aquatic wildlife species across multiple countries in South and Southeast Asia through an extensive cross-border network.

Based on evidence gathered by the STSF, the court of the chief judicial magistrate in Shivpuri issued an arrest warrant against Talukdar. Madhya Pradesh forest department officials then coordinated with central agencies and established contact with Interpol. Officials also sought assistance from foreign law enforcement agencies to gather information regarding Talukdar and his international operations.

Authorities said that considering the scale of the network allegedly operated by Talukdar across several countries, Interpol issued the red corner notice after sustained efforts by the STSF and the MP forest department. The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), New Delhi, also provided continuous assistance during the investigation.

Forest officials said Interpol has previously appreciated the work of Madhya Pradesh’s State Tiger Strike Force on four occasions for its efforts in combating wildlife crime.

The seizure included some of India’s rarest freshwater reptile species, including the critically endangered gharial.