Wildlife Department arrests smuggler with Rs. 300 million worth of rare items

Colombo, Oct. 17 (Daily Mirror) - A major wildlife smuggler has been arrested while attempting to sell rare and protected items valued at around Rs. 300 million, including Gajamuthu (tusk shell), ivory, leopard skin, and other valuable materials.

The arrest was made today (17) in the Mahiyanganaya area during a sting operation conducted by officers of the Ritigala Site Security Office, who had been posing as buyers since February.

According to the Wildlife Department, the suspect, a resident of a tribal village in Mahiyanganaya, had planned to sell a stock of rare wildlife and forest products. The items seized include Gajamuthu, a small piece of ivory, leopard skin, tiger oil, seven pieces of ebony, 35 bamboo pieces, and other rare timber. Officials also discovered gun parts, honey-extraction cables, and other illegal tools.

The suspect is currently being held at the Girandurukotte Elephant Control Unit for questioning and will be produced before the Mahiyanganaya Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (18).

The Sri Lanka Air Force Intelligence Unit assisted in the operation, which authorities describe as the largest-ever seizure of Gajamuthu in Sri Lanka’s history.

Initial investigations suggest that the smuggling activities may have been connected to the Maduru Oya National Park, located near the suspect’s village.

The successful raid was carried out under the direction of Wildlife Director General Ranjan Marasinghe, with support from Anuradhapura Assistant Director K.S. Chandraratne, Central Assistant Director S.G. Wickramathilaka, and field officers D. Ramasinghe, K.P. Udaya Karunanayake, W.M.J. Sandanuwan, S.M.S.K. Seneviratne, and G.W.G. Sampath Geeth Ratnaweera.