Rajkot, Oct 26, 2025

The Rajkot Special Operations Group (SOG) in Gujarat has busted a gang involved in the illegal sale of rare pangolins worth Rs 22 crore. The gang was allegedly smuggling the endangered species from the Gir forest area and attempting to sell them in major cities.

Acting on intelligence, the SOG carried out a swift operation and arrested three persons, including the key accused Bijal alias Vijay Jeeva Solanki. Investigations revealed that while one accused believed the pangolin’s value to be Rs 25 lakh, the ringleader was trying to sell it for Rs 22 crore.

Following the arrests, the accused and the rescued pangolin — protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act — were handed over to the Forest Department.

Officials, including RFO B.B. Wala and ACF Chirag

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