Two major private airlines are being used in the smuggling of endangered species, according to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
After a senior WCCB official brought this to the notice of Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Thursday, he promised to take up the issue with his counterpart in the Civil Aviation Ministry Vayalar Ravi.
The issue was brought up at a meeting of security agencies convened by Mr. Ramesh to discuss the problem of illegal smuggling of wildlife.
The WCCB official requested the Minister to take action against these airlines, possibly including the cancellation and suspension of their licences. The WCCB also pointed out that it often faces difficulties in obtaining airport passes for its officials trying to check smuggling cases.
