TN ex-constable likely the first to be booked under COFEPOSA for wildlife trafficking
CHENNAI: Chennai customs officials have recently detained a dismissed Tamil Nadu armed reserve police officer, suspected to be the lynchpin of a multi-crore international exotic species trafficking racket, under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA). This is likely the first detention related to wildlife smuggling made in the country under the Act, which is used as a preventive measure for habitual smugglers, official sources said.
The accused, S Ravikumar (41) from Kolathur, was arrested by the customs officials on April 12 and an advisory committee in New Delhi confirmed his detention earlier this month, said sources. He is currently lodged in Puzhal prison.
According to sources, Ravikumar allegedly played a key role in organising the smuggling of exotic species worth Rs 70-80 crore into India between 2022 and 2024, visited Malaysia and Thailand several times and was a lynchpin for a Thailand-based kingpin. Earlier, the Thailand police had arrested him, sources said, but he managed to get bail and return to India.
Ravikumar allegedly played a key role in arranging carriers from Chennai who would travel to Bangkok and return with the exotic species in their luggage. He looked after the finances and the sales of the smuggled animals through various channels. The sources said there is unassailable evidence that Ravikumar has also been a carrier of these animals or supervised the operations; using money as a lure, he had hired many unemployed people to do the illegal trade, they added.
In February 2022, he was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh police for illegal possession, transportation and trading of the Indian star tortoise in the Venkatagiri forest range. On April 12, he received 484 red-eared slider turtles and nine African spurred tortoises from Mohammed Mubeen, a traveller from Bangkok. Sources said there was evidence of Ravikumar’s involvement in many other cases of trafficking of marmoset monkeys and some other mammals and reptiles from Thailand to Chennai. In August, the seizure of 22 exotic species at Chennai airport led officials to a house in Kolathur, which he rented and used as a storehouse by Ravikumar.
The authorities suspect that some of the members of his family are also involved in the trade, but no arrest has been made yet.
What is cofeposa?
Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act, 1974
Preventive detention slapped on habitual smugglers
To combat smuggling and conserve foreign exchange
Has to be confirmed by an advisory committee in New Delhi