The accused, identified as Firoz Musarrat Khan, a resident of Byculla in Mumbai, Maharashtra, was arrested from a house
LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) arrested a Mumbai-based wildlife smuggler in Lucknow and seized seven rare falcons, with an estimated international market value of approximately Rs 14 crore, in a major crackdown on an interstate wildlife trafficking syndicate. A case has been registered against the accused at Madiaon police station under Sections 9, 39, 49, 50 and 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The accused, identified as Firoz Musarrat Khan, a resident of Byculla in Mumbai, Maharashtra, was arrested from a house in Iradat Nagar under the Madiaon police station area of Lucknow. Acting on specific intelligence that a Mumbai-based smuggler was arriving in Lucknow with prohibited wildlife species, the STF shared the information with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), Lucknow, and jointly coordinated the operation. The suspect was subsequently intercepted and arrested, with seven falcons recovered from his possession. Further legal proceedings will be conducted by the local police.