The Forest Department's Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCU) has arrested one person and seized 1,104 exotic animals of various species from a house in Dhaka's Rupnagar area in a crackdown on the illegal wildlife trade.
The raid was carried out last night based on intelligence gathered by the WCCU, with assistance from environmental organisation Bangladesh Wildlife Alliance (BWA), according to a WCCU press release issued today (3 July).
The arrestee, Kazi Shajid Ullah Dastagir, was produced in court and sent to jail after a case was filed against him under Section 33 of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2026 at Rupnagar Police Station.
During the operation at the house, officials recovered 1,104 animals, including two corn snakes, one Mexican black kingsnake, one golden chakuni tarantula, one blood leg tarantula, one dumpy frog, one leopard gecko, one round-tail leopard gecko, 846 red-eared sliders, 18 pink-bellied sideneck turtles, 138 Reeves's turtles, 56 common snapping turtles and 38 yellow-eared sliders.
Of the seized animals, 21 were found dead.
According to the WCCU, the accused said during preliminary interrogation that several other individuals are involved in the illegal wildlife trading network.
It said the investigation is underway to identify and arrest the remaining suspects.
The WCCU added that the illegal import, export, sale, purchase and transportation of wild animals are punishable offences under the country's wildlife conservation laws.
Forest Department / exotic animals
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