Bhubaneswar, Sept 1: The city forest department officials have arrested seven smugglers from the Capital City outskirts in connection with illegal trading of animal skins.

A leopard skin has been recovered after the forest department officials arrived at the scene when the deal was underway and caught the smugglers red-handed.

The successful raid was result of a sting operation. After learning about the smugglers, the Bhubaneswar forest department on August 28 placed one of their staff undercover as the buyer.

Unaware of the sting operation, the smugglers moved on with the deal at their pre-decided spot -- Baliapada village Field in Kashipur Mauja under Tamando police station limits.

However, the Bhubaneswar forest department officials were alert and prepared. They ambushed and caught seven smugglers, including a security force personal, red-handed without giving them much of a time to flee.

The leopard had reportedly been hunted in Boudh before the deal, worth Rs 10 lakhs, was planned in Bhubaneswar.

The city forest officials have recovered 5 mobile phones, tiger mustache, tiger teeth and tiger nails. The raid was a huge success for Bhubaneswar forest department.

read more Odisha News