Who is wildlife trafficker Tashi Sherpa imprisoned in MP?

Tashi Sherpa, 46, lived in Delhi’s Tibetan refugee colony, Majnu ka Tila. He claimed to be a trader of Himalayan herbs. But for nearly a decade, wildlife officials and Interpol believed otherwise.

Interpol called Sherpa a “well-known international tiger trafficker” with direct links to organised crime syndicates operating across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China.

After nearly nine years on the run, Madhya Pradesh’s Special Tiger Strike Force arrested him near Darjeeling on January 24, 2024. He was hiding close to the Nepal border. A local court in Narmadapuram convicted him in May 2025, sentencing him to five years in jail and fined Rs 1 lakh by the trial court in Narmadapuram on May 9, 2025. He is now imprisoned in Hoshangabad.

His conviction followed a nine-year investigation into illegal tiger hunting in Satpura Tiger Reserve, Narmadapuram, in 2015, and the smuggling of tiger bones to China. Sherpa was arrested on January 25, 2024, near the international border in Siliguri, West Bengal.

Who is Tashi Sherpa?

Tashi Sherpa was not just another dealer. According to investigators, he played a central role in one of India’s largest wildlife trafficking networks. He allegedly sourced tiger parts and pangolin scales from poachers in Madhya Pradesh and moved them through Delhi into Nepal and China.

His name surfaced in 2015, when multiple arrests revealed a pattern of illegal wildlife trade tied to his contacts. One of the key accused, J.E. Tamang, told police that Sherpa bought tiger bones and pangolin scales by the kilo, offering prices far above local rates.

Police say Sherpa operated under the cover of a legitimate herb business. He used bank accounts and shell networks to move money and avoid detection. Investigators later linked him to 28 other individuals involved in wildlife smuggling.

Cross-Border Wildlife Trade

Sherpa’s arrest followed a years-long investigation led by Madhya Pradesh’s Special Tiger Strike Force. Forest officer Ritesh Sirothia said the network included poachers, couriers, and foreign buyers.

The trail began in Satpura Tiger Reserve in July 2015, when guards found a poachers’ camp and pangolin skulls. Further arrests revealed a wider chain. One accused admitted to poisoning a tiger. His gang sold the bones to middlemen in Shahpur.

Tamang and another trader, Lachungpa Yangchen, surfaced as major operators. Tamang’s arrest in October 2015 confirmed Sherpa’s role. Bank records showed ₹65 lakh in wildlife-related transfers over seven months.

Interpol praised Sherpa’s arrest and called him a “well-known international tiger trafficker.” It issued a Red Corner Notice against Tamang, who remains missing. Interpol also requested Sherpa’s case files and offered to support further investigations.

Smuggling ring busted, 27 convicted

The case, initially linked to tiger poaching in Satpura Tiger Reserve, was transferred to the State Tiger Force (STF), which uncovered an organised smuggling gang. Through their investigation, 30 individuals were arrested, and 27 of them were convicted by the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Narmadapuram.

MP Tiger Foundation Society (@mptfs) wrote on X, reporting that Tashi Sherpa was convicted after a 9-year investigation by the State Tiger Force (STSF). Arrested on January 25, 2024, Sherpa was a key player in a cross-border tiger trafficking syndicate. The investigation utilised advanced techniques like brain mapping and cyber forensics, leading to India’s first conviction of an entire wildlife trafficking network.

Tashi Sherpa convicted after 9-year STSF probe. Arrested on 25/01/24, convicted on 9/05/25. Key player in a cross-border tiger trafficking syndicate. Advanced techniques like brain mapping and cyber forensics used.India’s first conviction of an entire wildlife trafficking network pic.twitter.com/tclyMUwEZG

— MP Tiger Foundation Society (@mptfs) May 10, 2025

To gather evidence against Sherpa, the STF employed advanced scientific techniques, including brain mapping and narcoanalysis. Cyber data was also crucial in building the case, which was presented as vital evidence in court. The STF’s investigation was supported by global agencies, including Interpol, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, and other law enforcement organisations.

Madhya Pradesh has over 780 tigers but faces high levels of wildlife crime. Officials recorded 171 tiger poaching cases statewide and 308 wildlife crimes in Narmadapuram alone.

Sherpa’s conviction exposed how deep the trade runs. Forest officials believe many more traffickers are still active. “The network is wide,” said Sirothia. “Sherpa’s arrest is one part of it. We’re not done yet.”

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