Two farmers from Pune were arrested on Monday by the Thane police in Kasarvadavli for trying to sell ivory [two elephant tusks] worth Rs10 lakh. Nilesh Gorakh Nannaware, 25, and Ajinky Ankush Bagal, 25, had the ivory for the past five years.
One of the tusks, 40-cm-long, has carving that resembles an African woman. It is worth Rs7 lakh in the market. The other, 38-cm-long, is plane and commands Rs3 lakh.
Senior inspector D Dhole from Kasarvadavli police station said, “We received a tip-off on Monday from DCP (zone 5) Sunil Lokhande, about two people trying to sell ivory. We formed a team and rushed to the spot near Gyan Ganga College. Frisking of the duo resulted in seizure of two elephant tusks worth Rs10 lakh. Forest officials confirmed that it was ivory. Both the accused are farmers and said they have been trying to sell it for the past five years. But couldn’t find a buyer.”
Cops said the two have visited Thane on several occasions in the past.
“Despite repeated attempts, neither of them managed to find a buyer. The collective weight of the ivory is 2.8kg and its price in the international market is extremely high. The duo had planned to sell the ivory to those residing in upmarket areas of Thane. We are now looking for the person who sold them ivory five years ago in Pune. Both were produced in court and remanded in police custody till Thursday”, said inspector Nasir Kulkarni from Kasarwadavli police station.
{{/usCountry}}“Despite repeated attempts, neither of them managed to find a buyer. The collective weight of the ivory is 2.8kg and its price in the international market is extremely high. The duo had planned to sell the ivory to those residing in upmarket areas of Thane. We are now looking for the person who sold them ivory five years ago in Pune. Both were produced in court and remanded in police custody till Thursday”, said inspector Nasir Kulkarni from Kasarwadavli police station.
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