Thoothukudi: In a crackdown here on Wednesday, the Forest Department personnel thwarted the attempts of smuggling sea cucumbers and arrested a man. Twenty sea cucumbers weighing around eight kilos were seized from S. Rajendran (46) of Sangukuli Colony, Threspuram.
He was nabbed after a chase near Threspuram, R. Gunasekaran, Thoothukudi Range Officer, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, told The Hindu . Besides, the two-wheeler used for trafficking the sea cucumbers was also seized.
The accused was found moving in a suspicious manner on a bike carrying a can, which contained the sea cucumbers near Threspuram. He was arrested for violating the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and remanded to judicial custody after producing him before the Judicial Magistrate Court –II.
The accused in this case was a first time offender, he said. This was the first case concerning sea cucumber smuggling reported in 2017 here. During 2016, 19 such cases were booked, the Range Officer said.
