Fri Oct 11 09:31:21 UTC 2024: ## Mumbai Police Bust Red Sand Boa Snake Smuggling Ring
**Mumbai, India** – Four individuals were arrested in Mumbai on Tuesday for attempting to sell a red sand boa snake, an endangered species, for a hefty sum of Rs 30 lakh. The arrests were made by the Cuffe Parade Police following a tip-off about a potential illegal sale near Maker Chambers.
The suspects, identified as Narsingh Dhoti (40), Shiva Adap (18), Ravi Bhoir (54), and Arvind Gupta (26), were apprehended after a suspected SUV was stopped and a snake was recovered inside a red bag. The snake, weighing approximately 5 kg and measuring 55 inches long, is considered critically endangered and is listed under Schedule-Four of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the law and the recovered red sand boa snake has been handed over to the forest department. The arrests highlight the ongoing challenge of illegal wildlife trade and the need for increased vigilance to protect endangered species.
First Piper 