Officials from the Nandurbar Police, in coordination with the Forest Department, intercepted a tempo on Monday night along National Highway 53 in Bedkipada in Nandurbar district in connection with a suspected wildlife trafficking case. Acting on specific intelligence, the joint team stopped the vehicle travelling on the Malegaon-Gujarat route and detained three individuals, including the driver. Upon inspection, officials recovered five foxes and nearly 240 birds concealed inside the vehicle. The accused had attempted to avoid detection by hiding cages containing wildlife beneath a layer of vegetables, making the illegal cargo difficult to detect during routine checks.
Assistant Conservator of Forest Roshan Buwa told mid-day that the department had received information about the alleged smuggling of live wild animals and birds to Gujarat. Acting on the directions of Deputy Conservator of Forest Santosh Saste, the forest department formulated a plan to intercept the suspects. Officials confirmed that the rescued animals included five foxes and approximately 240 birds, primarily parakeets along with a few other species. The operation was carried out in a coordinated manner, ensuring that the animals were safely rescued while the accused were taken into custody for further questioning.
A forest department official stated that both the police and independent forest teams had been tracking the movement of the vehicle based on prior intelligence inputs. While the police established a blockade near the Bedkipada toll plaza, the forest officials positioned themselves further ahead to assist in the operation. The official explained that the vehicle was eventually intercepted by the police and added that in a ‘Pushpa-style’ smuggling attempt, the accused had concealed cages of wildlife beneath a layer of vegetables to evade checks, highlighting the method used to transport the animals illegally.
Authorities said that the investigation is currently at a preliminary stage, and more details regarding the accused and the charges against them are expected to emerge as the probe progresses. The forest department has also launched a parallel inquiry alongside the police investigation as part of the joint operation. Officials are working to determine the full extent of the trafficking network, including the possible involvement of additional individuals. The focus remains on identifying the origin and intended destination of the animals, as well as uncovering any larger organised links behind the illegal wildlife trade.