Crime Branch busts illegal exotic animal breeding racket in Ahmedabad

The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has unearthed a large-scale racket of illegal breeding and sale involving exotic animals and birds following a raid at a flat in Rawalbhai Apartment in the Navrangpura area of Ahmedabad.

Police seized rare and high-value species allegedly being bred and kept for commercial sale in the residential premises.

Among the animals recovered were a rare red-handed tamarin monkey cub, seven Persian cats along with their kittens, 14 hamsters, 18 Mini Lop rabbits and nine Leather Lab Dwarfs, police said.

A large number of exotic birds were also found on  the premises. These included six African Grey parrots, five Blue and Gold Macaws, three Eclectus parrots, four Sun Conures, two Galah Cockatoos and one Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. 

In addition, African lovebirds, conures, cockatiels, budgerigars and fantails — species that command high prices in the international market — were seized.

Officials said the documents produced by the accused from the Parivesh portal appeared suspicious, prompting a joint investigation by the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the Forest Department and the Customs Department.

Police said operating a commercial breeding facility from a residential building posed a serious risk of spreading zoonotic diseases among residents. Action has been initiated for alleged violations of laws governing international wildlife trade, they added.