About 360 kilograms of sea cucumbers, the endangered marine species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, were seized from Pullaveli village in the district on Sunday.
The Marine Police of the Coastal Security Group arrested four persons who had stashed them in a remote place. Acting on a tip-off received through ‘1093’ helpline, a team led by Tharuvaikulam Inspector C. Muhesh Jeyakumar seized the contraband worth Rs. 1 lakh. Five cell phones, Rs. 4,500 in cash and processing materials used to dry the sea cucumbers were seized.
It is the first seizure of sea cucumbers by the Tuticorin Marine Police. Police enquiries revealed that sea cucumbers, which are mostly used in traditional Chinese medicine, are boiled, preserved with salt and dried before being sold to smugglers.
The seized sea cucumbers were handed over to the Forest Department officials for further investigation. “Since it is a cognizable and non-bailable offence, the arrested men may get a maximum punishment of up to seven years of imprisonment,” Mr. Jeyakumar said.
The arrested persons were identified as S. Vino (26) of Keezha Alangarathattu, the mastermind; M. Mohammed Azharuddin (27) and S. Sikka Nikal of Lourdhammalpuram; and R. Mohammed Nasrul Ali (24) of S.S. Manickapuram. Azharuddin had been arrested for a similar offence at Threspuram five years ago.
