Ahmedabad: Within 24 hours of busting what appeared to be an exotic animal breeding and trading racket inside a residential flat in Ahmedabad’s Navrangpura area, investigators say they have unearthed evidence that blows the case wide open.Behind the cages and the clutter of the 10×12 room where 50 exotic species were rescued from, ran an illicit network of sourcing foreign snakes, extracting their venom, and funnelling it into rave parties where the lines between thrill and danger blur, investigators believe. The venom, officers said, allegedly went to such parties in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and beyond.Sources said that one dose of venom from psycho-fauna such as snakes for recreational use sells for as high as Rs 50,000.An official said there are several ways abusers get high on snake venom — they get themselves bitten by small snakes, ingest a couple of drops or inject it into the bloodstream. The main accused, Manikanandan K Nadar (41), was arrested on Sunday after the raid. Among the animals found crammed there were a baby red-handed tamarin, African grey parrots, blue-and-gold macaws, Persian cats and Netherland dwarf rabbits. It is suspected that Manikandan had branched out into the procurement of foreign snake species for supplying their venom and the extraction of their venom, which was allegedly diverted to exclusive, invitation-only rave gatherings in Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Kheda and even rural pockets beyond. “We found credible leads suggesting that the accused were involved in procuring foreign snake species and extracting venom,” said a senior crime branch officer. “We are verifying whether the consignments were routed through customs channels and whether there was any collusion.”Officers say they have information indicating an organized operation possibly winding through several states with multiple points of entry and distribution. Several consignments may have been shipped through Chennai. Investigators are sifting through bank records, call data and seized digital devices to map the scale of operations.According to sources, imported snakes were allegedly sold to certain pharmaceutical entities, while venom extracted from select species was supplied to rave parties.“Earlier, Surat SOG arrested a man from Ahmedabad in a similar racket involving snake venom supply to parties in Surat and Ahmedabad. We are probing if the Navrangpura accused is linked to that case or operated independently,” the officer said.The recreational use of snake venom — rare and highly risky — has been sporadically documented in India. Experts note that certain components can induce altered consciousness, mood shifts, lethargy and blurred vision, though its psychoactive effects remain scientifically contested and its health dangers, severe.The case has now drawn in multiple agencies. The customs department is examining the import-export trail of exotic species, while the forest department — which filed the initial wildlife complaint—is reviewing documentation uploaded on the PARIVESH portal after finding several entries incomplete or suspicious. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation officials are assessing potential public-health risks posed by the cramped, unsanitary housing of dozens of exotic animals — conditions that carry a high risk of zoonotic disease transmission.
