Nearly 920 kg of live and processed sea cucumbers seized

RAMANATHAPURAM: Forest Department and police officials seized 920 kg of sea cucumbers, an endangered marine species meant for smuggling to Sri Lanka at Mandapam coastal hamlet here on Friday. Police sources said, following specific inputs that a large consignment of sea cucumbers was being smuggled to the Island nation, a joint team comprising officials from the forest and police departments raided a house and seized about 600 kg of live species and 320 kg of processed species. LPG cylinders, gas stove and vessels meant for processing the sea cucumbers were also seized. The sea cucumbers were procured from local fishermen over a period of time by Ghulam Mohammed for smuggling to Lanka, where the species fetch lucrative prices. A search is on to arrest Mohammed, who is absconding. Poaching and trading of Sea Cucumbers, listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 was banned in India. These marine species were in great demand not only as delicacies, but also used for preparing some traditional medicines in countries like China, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand etc.