Tennessee police officer fired for role in wildlife trafficking from Thailand

CHENNAI: A police constable attached to the Tamil Nadu Special Police Battalion has been removed from service for his possible kingpin role in a multi-crore international trade in exotic species busted recently by customs authorities in Chennai.

S Ravikumar (41), havildar number 4938 of TSP VI battalion in Madurai, was discharged from service on May 11, a senior police official said.

According to sources, Ravikumar is suspected of having made more than 10 foreign trips, including Malaysia and Thailand, in the last three years. The value of wildlife smuggled by him in recent times is said to be around Rs 5 crore, investigators said.

Marmoset monkeys, red-tailed guenon (monkey), tegu lizards and several varieties of ball python and fennec fox were among the multitude of exotic animals suspected of being smuggled into the country. Ravikumar was arrested by customs officials outside the Chennai International Airport on April 12 after allegedly receiving 484 red-eared turtles and nine African spiny turtles from Mohammed Mubeen, a passenger from Bangkok.

Investigation revealed that Ravikumar was involved in the racket after running an aquarium in Kolathur under his wife's name. He never sought approval from his superiors, as required by service regulations, for his foreign travel, sources said.

He was earlier arrested by the Andhra Pradesh Special Enforcement Bureau for illegal possession, transportation and trade of Indian Star Tortoise in Venkatagiri forest range near Tirupati in 2022. He was attached to the Third Battalion of TSP at Veerapuram and had received two suspension orders.

The central agency had written to the Tamil Nadu police explaining Ravikumar's alleged role in wildlife trafficking for which the Chennai airport has been identified as a global hub.

Currently, Ravikumar is out on bail and the case against him is being investigated by the Customs and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB).

Arrested outside the airport

Ravikumar was arrested outside the Chennai International Airport after allegedly receiving 484 red-eared turtles and nine African spiny turtles from Mohammed Mubeen, a passenger from Bangkok. Investigation revealed that Ravikumar was involved in the racket after running an aquarium in Kolathur under his wife's name.