Rs. 300Mn Worth Wildlife Items Seized In Mahiyanganaya

COLOMBO(News 1st); The Wildlife Department says that the value of the items found with the suspect arrested in Mahiyanganaya is estimated to be around Rs. 300 million.

According to the department, 30 pearls, a small piece of ivory, pieces of leopard skin, leopard oil, 7 pieces of ebony wood, 35 pieces of bamboo wood, a large amount of rare and valuable timber, parts used to make a shotgun, cables for collecting honey, and other illegal items were found in the suspect's possession.

The arrest was made during a raid carried out based on a tip-off received by the Ritigala Site Security Office. The suspect is a resident of an indigenous village in Mahiyanganaya.

He has been taken to the Elephant Control Unit in Girandurukotte, and further investigations are underway.

The Wildlife Department stated that the suspect will be produced before the Mahiyanganaya Magistrate’s Court today along with the seized items.

They also said that the village is located near the Maduru Oya National Park, and investigations are ongoing to find out whether this is part of a pearl and timber smuggling operation inside the park.