The Local Crime Branch (LCB) got a tip-off last evening that four persons from neighbouring Telangana would enter Maharashtra at night carrying a tiger skin, police said.
Police personnel started checking vehicles at the designated spot on Ashti-Gondpipri road and intercepted a motorcycle last night, on which four persons were heading towards Chandrapur with one of them carrying a white bag, they said.
"Upon checking, a tiger skin was found in the bag, following which all the four accused were taken into custody on the charge of possessing it without valid permission. The nine feet skin is worth Rs 15 lakh in the international market," a police officer said.
The accused were later handed over to forest officials of Dhaba Range in Gondpipri tehsil in the district. The motorcycle has also been seized and further probe is being carried out by the forest officials.