Fri Jan 03 10:05:47 UTC 2025: ## Five Arrested in Salem for Smuggling 20-Year-Old Elephant Tusks

**Salem, January 3, 2025** – Five men were arrested in Salem district on Thursday evening for allegedly smuggling elephant tusks, according to Forest Department officials. Acting on a tip-off, officials apprehended the suspects in the Elaraimathikadu locality near Kolathur. The arrests led to the seizure of four elephant tusks weighing a total of seven kilograms, along with a car and two motorcycles believed to have been used in the operation.

The arrested individuals are C. Palani (40), V. Selvakumar (40), R. Perumal (50), C. Ondiappan (59), and T. Arunachalam (46). Investigations indicate the tusks were harvested from dead elephants in the Mettur forest approximately 20 years ago. The case highlights the ongoing challenges in combating wildlife crime in the region.

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