The police here have arrested two persons and seized two 'Earth Boa' snakes, worth Rs 55 lakh in the illegitimate markets.
Earth Boa, known as 'Mandul' in Konkan area, are a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, but are smuggled and sold for black magic and alleged medicinal uses, police said.
Assistant commissioner of police Bharat Shelke said today that the police had received a tip-off that two men were arriving in the city to sell the snakes.
A team led by senior inspector Ravindra Doiphode and members of the NGO Nisarg Vidnyan laid a trap and accosted two men moving suspiciously in Panchpakhadi area last evening.
They were found to be carrying two snakes in a sack.
The arrested men were identified as Sandeep Ravindra Pandit (21) and Ananta Vitthal Godvinde (47).
A case under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, was registered against them.
Police suspected that the duo might have cheated many people by promising to sell these snakes, Doiphode said. Further probe is on.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)