Wildlife Crime Control Bureau officials on Tuesday busted a snake venom racket and rescued 13 reptiles, including seven cobras, four rat snakes and a Russell’s viper, from a house in Thigalarapalya in Byadarahalli police station limits.
Based on a tip-off about the sale of snake venom, a team led by inspector Pradeep T.P. approached the suspect, Lokesh, through a middleman named Ravi.
When the police went to Lokesh’s house, they found 13 snakes in plastic jars. According to Pradeep, Lokesh was not only selling venom but was also selling the snakes to people to perform rituals.
“Preliminary inquiry revealed that Lokesh has been in this business for two years. He would catch snakes from a nearby forest,” Pradeep said.
The CID has taken Lokesh into custody.