One arrested for smuggling elephant tusks in Hyderabad; ivory worth ₹3 crore seized According to police, Prasad has a criminal background and was earlier involved in a case of red sanders smuggling. In a joint operation, the Special Operations Team (SOT) of LB Nagar Zone under Rachakonda Police Commissionerate, along with officials from the Hayath Nagar Forest Range, arrested a man attempting to sell elephant tusks illegally in the city. Authorities seized two elephant ivories weighing 5.62 kilograms and a mobile phone from the accused’s possession. The arrested individual has been identified as Rekulakunta Prasad, 32, a driver by profession and resident of Rajula Colony, Rayachoti in Annamaiah district, Andhra Pradesh. According to police, Prasad has a criminal background and was earlier involved in a case of red sanders smuggling. He had previously been arrested by the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) and lodged at the Tirupati Sub-Jail in February 2025. During his time in prison, Prasad became acquainted with another accused, Lokeshwar Reddy, also arrested in a red sanders smuggling case. After their release, the duo allegedly conspired to profit from the illegal ivory trade. According to investigators, Reddy procured two elephant tusks from members of the Yanadula tribal community in the Seshachalam forests of Tirupati district. The pair then travelled by private bus to Hyderabad to find potential buyers and sell the tusks on the black market, where their estimated worth is around ₹3 crore in international trade. Acting on a tip-off, SOT officials, in coordination with forest authorities, apprehended Prasad in LB Nagar in the early hours of 25 June. Reddy managed to escape and is currently absconding. Efforts are underway to trace and arrest him. “The swift and coordinated action of our SOT LB Nagar Zone team and the Hayath Nagar forest officials helped in foiling a major ivory smuggling racket. This operation reflects our ongoing commitment to curbing illegal wildlife trade and protecting endangered species,” a senior Rachakonda police official said. The seized tusks have been handed over to forest authorities, and a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act. Further investigation is ongoing, including verification of the accused’s criminal history and links to other smuggling networks.