The Kerala forest department will constitute intelligence sleeper cells in each circle as part of reducing crimes related to wildlife and improving the functioning of the Forest intelligence cell. The department has approved the proposal submitted by the Additional Principal chief forest conservator (vigilance and forest intelligence).

Sleeper cells will be launched to gather intelligence on wildlife crimes in Southern, Highrange, Central, Eastern and Northern forest circles. Each cell will have five beat forest officers.

The members of sleeper cells will not be chosen based on deputation or as special appointments. Those with intelligence collection skills will be retained in respective offices and deployed in sleeper cells.

The staff recruited for sleeper cells will continue to function in their offices and collect information on the possibility of wildlife crimes. Forest intelligence cells will directly supervise the functioning of sleeper cells. The information will be directly shared with the intelligence cell and shall not be transferred to any other office, as per the order issued by the Forest Department.

The members will be apprised based on their inputs, authenticity of information, number of tips and accuracy. If found not attaining the requisite standards, they will be dropped from sleeper cells. Once the cells become functional, additional members with the aptitude and skills required for the job will be inducted into sleeper cells.