Daijiworld Media Network - Rajkot

Rajkot, Oct 26: In a major wildlife crime crackdown, the Rajkot Special Operations Group (SOG) has dismantled a gang involved in the illegal sale of endangered pangolins worth Rs 22 crore. The group was allegedly smuggling the rare species from the Gir forest area and attempting to sell them in major cities across India.

Acting on a tip-off, SOG officers arrested three suspects, including the alleged mastermind Bijal alias Vijay Jeeva Solanki. Investigations revealed that one of the accused had valued the pangolin at Rs 25 lac, while Solanki was seeking an exorbitant Rs 22 crore from potential buyers.

The rescued pangolin — a Schedule I protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act — was handed over to the Forest Department. Officials, including RFO B.B. Wala and ACF Chirag Chandgude, have begun interrogating the accused to trace previous sales and their broader network. The court has granted the trio a four-day remand for further questioning.

Police said the operation began after tracking a suspect whose phone contained videos and chats about the illegal wildlife trade. The trail led investigators to a farm near Ghantwad forest, where the gang was caught red-handed attempting to sell the pangolin.

Officials described the bust as the first coordinated effort between Gujarat’s police and forest departments to tackle pangolin trafficking.

Often called scaly anteaters, pangolins are among the most trafficked mammals globally, with massive illegal demand in China and Vietnam due to myths about the medicinal value of their scales. Conservationists warn that this poaching epidemic threatens the species with extinction and destabilizes ecosystems, as pangolins help regulate insect populations.

Authorities have pledged stricter enforcement, cross-border vigilance, and public awareness campaigns to combat wildlife trafficking and safeguard India’s biodiversity.