Indian citizen detained at Dhaka airport for smuggling bird claws

Authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport detained an Indian national attempting to smuggle 4 kilograms of bird claws into Bangladesh last night (6 December).

Jakir Hossain, a resident of Kolkata of India's West Bengal, was detained in a joint operation by the Wildlife Crime Control Unit (WCCU) of the Forest Department and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate.

Jakir had transported the bird claws into Bangladesh via a flight of IndiGo Airlines. 

His identity has been verified by his passport.

Ashim Mallik, inspector of WCCU, said, "The seized bird claws were brought into the country illegally, bypassing customs duties. This act constitutes a punishable offense under the Special Powers Act 1974 (Sections 25-B(1) (b) and 25-D) and the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act 2012 (Section 34(b))."

A case has been filed against Jakir Hossain at Airport Police Station this morning, he added.

"During interrogation, Hossain confessed to smuggling bird claws into Bangladesh, intending to re-export them to China for the production of various ornaments," Ashim said, adding that Bangladesh was used as a transit point for this illegal trade. 

He said the seized items have been sent to the Wildlife Crime Control Unit's forensic lab in Dhaka for species identification. 

Further investigations are ongoing to determine the origin and intended use of the smuggled goods, the official added.