Police on Monday night arrested a person in possession of huge quantity of pangolin body parts from Khokundol Bazaar along the Araniko Highway. Dinesh Roka, 25 of Barhabishe-6 Sindhupalchowk was arrested for possessing 50 kg scales at 10 pm night. [break]This is the first time that the police have seized such a huge quantity of pangolin body parts being smuggled to China.
“We arrested him while he was waiting for customer,” Inspector Bishwa Karki told to Republica. Khokundol Bazaar is very close to the China border. Police said Rokka, a retailer of Chinese mobile phones, has long been involved in the smuggling of pangolin body parts.
(Photo: Dhurba)
According to Karki, Rokka has admitted to having smuggled pangolin body parts to China several times in the past. In his statement to the police, Rokka said he bought pangolin scales in Ilam and Taplejung.
“There is a huge demand for pangolin body parts in China. The prospect looked lucrative and I started smuggling pangolin body parts to China,” Rokka said.
He also revealed that pangolin scales are brought to Kathmandu from Ilam and Taplejung on bus. Passenger buses charge Rs 1, 000 to transport per kg of scales. He also disclosed that there are several other groups involved in smuggling of pangolin body parts.
Police said Rokka will be handed over to the District Forest Office (DFO) for prosecution.
Related story
Pangolin scales widely traded illegally in Dolakha
