The Kurseong Wildlife Forest Division, Bagdogra Forest Range and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau of Forest division in a joint raid in Muraligach space of Phansidewa arrested three males with snake venom price Rs 5 crore on Tuesday night time.
The accused have been recognized as Mohammad Shahnawaz (27), Mohammad Tawhid Alam (39), Mohammad Ajmal (28), residents of Islampur in North Dinajpur.
Sonam Bhutia, the Range Officer of Bagdogra Forest Range mentioned: “The arrested will be taken into custody for questioning. It is being investigated whether anyone else is involved in the incident.”
Foresters seized a four-wheeler and a scooty. A jar stuffed with snake venom wrapped in Bangladeshi newspaper was recovered through the search of the four-wheeler and the second jar was recovered from the scooty.
One jar contained 1 kg 796 grams and one other 2 kg 29 grams of snake venom. The venom was introduced from Bangladesh and was supposed to be smuggled to China by means of Nepal.