KATHMANDU, MAY 5
Police arrested three persons with 4.6 kilograms of pangolin scales and a bullet from Kathmandu in separate operations yesterday.
According to Central Police News Section, Mandal Giri, 57, of Dhankuta was held from Teku on the charge of illegal possession of 100 grams of pangolin scales and a bullet. Acting on a tip-off, sleuths deployed from Teku-based Metropolitan Police Range raided his rented room and took him into custody with the contraband.
Similarly, police carried out another raid at a hotel in Shantinagar, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, and arrested Subilal Singtan, 32, of Sarlahi and Subash Bista, 21, of Okhaldhunga with 4.5 kilograms of pangolin scales. Officials said they were caught in the act of negotiating the price of wildlife body parts with their prospective clients.
China is said to be the destination of seized pangolin scales. According to police, pangolin scales are in high demand in Asian markets, especially China, as they are used in manufacturing bulletproof jackets and traditional Chinese medicine.
Chinese people believe that pangolin scales can heal swelling, increase blood circulation and help mothers produce milk.
A version of this article appears in the print on May 06, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
