Four Arrested in Mumbai for Attempting to Sell Ivory Worth ₹3.5 Crore

Mumbai, April 25: In a significant crackdown on wildlife trafficking, the Chembur police in Mumbai have arrested four individuals who were attempting to sell ivory worth crores of rupees.

According to police officials, this operation was carried out by the Crime Detection Unit based on a tip-off that revealed a plan for the illegal buying and selling of ivory.

The arrested suspects have been identified as Akash Ashok Avhad (28), Sandeep Randhir Bidlan (33), Shashank Chandrashekhar Ranjankar (38), and Dinesh Rammanohar Agnivanshi (40). Police stated that they had conspired together to facilitate the illegal sale of ivory.

On April 22, police devised a plan at a hotel located on RC Marg in Chembur. They posed as buyers and contacted the suspects to finalize the deal, booking a room at a local lodge for the transaction. The suspects delivered the ivory as per the agreed plan.

As soon as the informants signaled, the police team raided the hotel room. During the operation, all four suspects were caught red-handed. Two large pieces of ivory, which were found placed on the bed, were seized from the scene.

The Maharashtra Forest Department team was immediately called to the site, confirming through preliminary investigation that the seized items were indeed genuine ivory. According to police, the suspects planned to sell the ivory for approximately ₹3.5 crore.

The ivory pieces weighed approximately 11 kilograms and 20.6 kilograms, respectively. Additionally, police confiscated bags used for transportation, packing materials, and four mobile phones. All seized items have been sealed and secured.

Police have registered a case against the suspects under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972—specifically 9, 39, 44, 48, 50, and 51.

Currently, the police are conducting an in-depth investigation into the matter. Interrogations of the suspects are ongoing to trace the source of the ivory and identify other individuals involved in this illegal trafficking network.