Following a tip-off, police officers contacted Salim Khan (49) and Matin Mohammad (35) posing as customers, and struck a deal for skins for Rs five lakh, Superintendent of Police Rakesh Jain said today.
The two were arrested last night at bypass from Chhindwara, and a tiger skin was allegedly recovered from them, Jain said.
The duo revealed that the skins had allegedly been sourced from Avinash alias Bittu Vavetra, a forest guard attached to Chhindwara forest circle.
Vavetra's arrest led to recovery of another skin. One of the skins is from from head to toe, while the other without the parts covering head and legs.
The cost of these skins in the international black market would be about Rs 30 lakh, Jain said.
A case has been registered against the accused under the Wildlife Protection Act.