CIB on Sunday seized about 400 kg of fur of the Tibetan antelope, an endengered species, SP Ishwor Babu Karki said. The fur was being stored at a house in Malekhu Bazar, Dhading district. [break]
CIB arrested two persons on Thurshday and another one today.
The arrested include Aapen aka Pentu, 30, of Chhyamdo, Tibet and Cheten Lundup Lama, 28, and Tembel Lama, 45, of Chekampar-8, Gorkha district. Police said the fur was found packed in 29 sacks.
According to preliminary investigation, the fur belonged to Cheten and Pentu whereas Tembel was assisting with the storage. SP Karki said Pentu had been living at Thamel, Swoyambhu and Bouddha since the last one and half months.
The arrested have been sent to the District Forest Office, Dhading for further investigation. Police said the accused may be slapped 5 to 15 years imprisonment and fined Rs 50,000 to 100,000 or both. Under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029 and the CITIES Convention, Tibetan antelope fur is a contraband, SP Karki said.
Police said poachers must have killed at least 2,500 antelopes to collect 400 kg of fur.
Hand of organized crime suspected
With two huge hauls of Tibetan antelope fur in a month, police suspect the involvement of organized crime in smuggling the fur via Nepal.
Last month, police seized 46 sacks of the fur weighing 1,150 kg from two houses in Soti and Keurpani in Gorkha. Cheten has been identified as being involved in both smuggling instances.
The Tibetan antelope fur was allegedly being smuggled to India, and it is used for making luxury shawls. The shawls, made by Kashmiri artisans, are in great demand in the UK and USA.
The fur is so fine that the shawls can be pulled through a wedding ring.
About four antelopes have to be killed for a single shawl.
Despite strict controls on its trade and CITES listing, the luxury item is still in demand. In India, shawls are worth $1,000-$5,000 per piece, and the international price can reach $20,000, according to CIB.
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