JALPAIGURI (North Bengal): Is China encouraging the smuggling of cobra venom? Forest officials in the North Bengal region believe so.

 In ‘sting ‘operation, the forest department has seized of nine lbs of cobra venom worth over Rs 100 crore in international black market. It’s the second seizure over three months. So far, the department has recovered 18 lbs of the stuff.

 Belakoba ranger Sanjay Dutta and team raided a house in Buniadpur in South Dinajpur and arrested two persons, Israil Haque and Amal Mondol, for possession of the poison. The venom was found in three containers made of bullet-proof Belgium Glass. They also seized a 9 mm pistol and nine rounds of cartridges from them.

 “We had seized 9 lbs of Cobra venom on June 27 and arrested six persons for trying to smuggle the venom. Monday’s recovery and arrest are linked,” said Dutta. The raid was conducted with special permission from the additional principal chief conservator of forests, wildlife (North Bengal), P T Bhutia.

 The forest officials believe that the venom was likely to be sent to China where it is used to make several medicines. Where and how were so many cobras milked for their poison? What’s the real deal? One hopes that after the interrogation, we’ll be provided some answers.

fun fact:

Enzymes from cobra venom may be instrumental to finding cures for Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

  cobra venom, development, environment, North bengal