In a coordinated raids carried out by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Wild Life Department and local police, a big organised racket of poaching, illegal wildlife hunting and arms trafficking has been unearthed in Meerut. Raids have been carried out at the residence of a retired army colonel.

In 17-hour-long joint raid, at army officer's son Prashant Bishnoi, a national level shooter, is under the scanner.

At least 140 weapons, licensed and illegal, locally and foreign made, around 50,000 cartridges, skin and carcass of a leopard, blackbuck and extinct animals, antlers, bones and ivory tusk, 15 stuffed deer, sambhar and blackbuck were seized in raids. Around 170 kilogram of meat, believed to be of Neelgai, blue bull, was also seized found at home.

Around 117 kilogram of meat said to be of Nilgai, blue bull, found in a freezer was also taken in custody. The meat found was filled in 45 packets. The seized sample will be sent to wild life institute in Dehradun for forensic examination.

Apart from that, authorities also recovered 15 stuffed sambhar deer and a blackbuck.

Mr Bishnoi was part of a "hunting team" that was sent to Bihar. In a highly controversial move, Bihar government had allowed hunting of Neelgai or Blue Bull, claiming it was destroying crops of farmers.

 A foreign national is also said to be involved in the racket.