Delhi Police Seize 2 Rhino Horns Worth ₹3 Crore, Four Arrested

Delhi Police have arrested four individuals for attempting to sell two rhino horns, worth ₹3 crore, linked to illegal wildlife trade. The horns, originating from a white rhinoceros, were to be sold for ₹1 crore, with the accused citing financial distress as their motivation.

Delhi Police's Crime Branch has arrested four individuals involved in the illegal trade of two rhinoceros horns, valued at ₹3 crore in the international market. The accused—Deepak Sharma, Suresh Kumar, Sant Ram, and Anil Kumar Sethi—were apprehended after a tip-off led to a raid in Lajpat Nagar on January 9.

The horns, identified as belonging to the endangered white rhinoceros, were to be sold for ₹1 crore. The police operation involved using a decoy customer, leading to the recovery of the horns. The suspects failed to provide legal documentation for the possession of the horns, which were confirmed to be from a white rhinoceros by wildlife experts.

Sharma, the primary accused, claimed that the horns had been in his family for nearly 90 years, initially kept as antiques. Due to financial difficulties exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to sell them. The accused, motivated by debts, sought to sell the horns through a network, including a Mahant, a government employee, and a private worker.

Also Read: Dense Fog Disrupts Delhi-NCR, Rain and Thunderstorms Expected

A case has been registered under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, and further investigation is underway to identify additional members of the trafficking network.