RAMANATHAPURAM
The Marine Police of the Coastal Security Group (CSG) have seized about 50 kg of endangered sea cucumbers, protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, on Servankottai seashore in Rameswaram.
Acting on a tip-off, a special team, led by Inspector A. Rajarajan, seized the sea cucumbers on Thursday after apprehending two persons, K. Muniasamy (32) of Servankottai and N. Indirakumar of Therku Thoppu, who were trying to transport the marine species after collecting them from fishermen.
The duo were handed over to Mandapam Forest Range officials, who arrested them under various provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.
The duo acted as agents of smugglers. They were produced before the local Magistrate Court, which remanded them in judicial custody, the police said.
Since the seized sea cucumbers were alive, the forest personnel, led by Forest Range Officer S. Sathish, released them into the sea from Pamban road bridge after obtaining court orders.
The Marine Police and Forest Department officials have made at least a dozen seizures of sea cucumbers in the last two months.
