Police on Sunday apprehended three persons for their alleged involvement in smuggling wild animal body parts.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team deployed from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police arrested Binesh Bhandari, 23, Anup Bartaula, 33, and Bibek Bartaula, 25, of Hetauda Municipality-11, Makawanpur district, with a leopard hide from Balaju, KMC-16.

During the interrogation, the trio said that they had brought the leopard hide from Birgunj Customs Office and rest of the body parts were hidden near the Platform No 1 of the Customs Office.

Based on intelligence inputs, a police team deputed from the District Police Office, Parsa, carried out a search and found two leopard hides, 34.9 kg bones of wild animals hidden in two white boxes.

Police said that the arrestees have been sent to the District Forest Office, Kathmandu, for further investigation and legal action.

Similarly, the animal body parts confiscated from Brigunj have been sent to District Forest Office, Parsa.