Forest guards arrested 377 people, involved in various crimes, during operations in the East Sundarbans over the past year.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury confirmed the matter.
During the raids, the authorities seized large quantities of deer‑poaching traps, venison, and illegal fishing and crabbing gear.
The East Sundarbans Division said guards carried out drives in the Sharankhola and Chandpai ranges to curb deer hunting and other wildlife crimes. Officials claim that they intensified foot patrols in remote forest areas have largely brought forest crime under control.
Between May 2025 and April 2026, forest guards conducted 474 operations, leading to 241 cases under forest laws. Of 396 accused, 377 were arrested and sent to jail through the courts.
Guards recovered 114,553 feet of deer traps, stretching about 35 kilometres, and confiscated 249 kg of venison.
The Forest Department also impounded 448 trawlers, 100 boats, 8,381 illegal crab traps, 300 feet of fishing nets, and 217 kg of fish. Seizures included 724 kg of fish caught with poison, 96 bottles of poison, and five packets of toxic fishing powder.
Officials further recovered 22 sacks of dried shrimp caught with poison and 1,066 kg of illegally harvested crabs.
DFO Rezaul said forest crime in the Sundarbans has decreased compared to any previous time, with poachers and bandits brought under control through regular patrols.
He added that the department has prepared a list of 150 identified deer poachers under the East Sundarbans Division to prevent further wildlife hunting.
