The accused has been identified as Firoz Musarrat Khan, a resident of Mumbai, Maharashtra. According to the STF, the operation has exposed a network involved in capturing protected birds from forests in Uttar Pradesh and supplying them to international markets.
The investigation is now focused on identifying other members of the alleged trafficking syndicate and tracing the route through which the protected birds were transported from forests to foreign destinations.
STF Acts on Secret Intelligence
The STF had been receiving information for some time about the activities of a gang allegedly involved in the illegal trafficking of protected wildlife. Following the inputs, officials directed various teams to gather intelligence and take action against the smugglers.
Under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Avnishwar Chandra Srivastava, the Lucknow STF team was monitoring the network.
During the operation, a team led by Sub-Inspector Faizuddin Siddiqui received information that a Mumbai-based individual was likely to arrive in Lucknow carrying birds belonging to a prohibited species.
Taking the information seriously, the STF contacted the Lucknow team of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and prepared for a joint operation.
Mumbai Man Arrested in Iradat Nagar
On October 30, at around 7:30 pm, the STF and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau teams conducted an operation near a house in the Iradat Nagar locality under the Madeyganj police station area of Lucknow.
Firoz Musarrat Khan, a resident of Mumbai, was arrested during the operation.
A search of his possession led to the recovery of seven falcons, one mobile phone and one Aadhaar card.
According to the STF, the recovered falcons belong to a protected wildlife category. Their estimated value in the international market is approximately Rs 14 crore.
The recovery of birds valued at such a high amount has brought the alleged trafficking network under scrutiny. Investigating agencies are expected to examine the involvement of other individuals connected to the operation.
Alleged Network Spanned Uttar Pradesh Forests and Foreign Markets
During questioning, the accused allegedly revealed that he was part of a gang involved in trafficking prohibited and protected birds and other wildlife.
According to information released by the STF, members of the gang collected birds from forests in Gorakhpur, Lakhimpur Kheri and Sitapur districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The birds were then allegedly transported through Mumbai before being supplied to international markets.
The accused also allegedly disclosed that the birds were supplied to Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
The revelations could expand the scope of the investigation to the international wildlife trafficking network. Agencies are now expected to establish the identities of other gang members and examine how the alleged operation functioned, from capturing protected birds in forests to transporting them abroad.
Schedule-I Wildlife Species Receive Strict Legal Protection
Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, species listed in Schedule-I receive a high level of legal protection. The law provides for strict action against the illegal hunting, capture, possession and trade of these wildlife species.
The trafficking of protected falcons is a serious concern for wildlife conservation.
The STF has registered a case against the accused at Madeyganj police station under Case Crime No. 135/2026.
The accused has been booked under Sections 9, 39, 49, 50 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Further legal proceedings in the case will be handled by the local police.
Following the recovery of seven rare birds, the investigation into the alleged trafficking network has become a key focus for the agencies involved.
The immediate challenge is to identify the other members of the gang and determine who was involved in capturing protected birds from forests and facilitating their movement to international markets.
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