STF nabs criminal who used courier services for wildlife smuggling

Lucknow, Nov 14 (UNI) In a major breakthrough, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh police today arrested a wanted wildlife smuggler who used courier services to carry out his activities.

The Agra unit of the STF was able to nail Brijesh Upadhyay, wanted for smuggling exotic wildlife species, mainly from South India. The STF was on the lookout for Upadhyay for the last two months after authorities accidentally stumbled upon the thriving racket.

Two months ago, a courier company employee accidentally dropped a packet received from Chennai. As the packet fell, dozens of dead snakes, including five cobras, spilled on the floor. When wildlife authorities and local police raided the address in Kailash Puri area of Agra, they found 29,200 remains of a variety of wildlife creatures, including crocodiles, two-faced snakes -- found only in a particular district of Andhra Pradesh -- and butterflies. The main accused, Brijesh Upadhyay, however, managed to escape.

A similar raid in Chennai, from the courier had originated, also unearthed a similar recovery.

Brijesh was arrested from Agra today by the STF, STF inspector V S Tyagi, who was part of the operation to nab Upadhyay told UNI. He was carrying a reward of Rs 20,000.

UNI