RAMANATHAPURAM
Uchipuli police seized 246 kg of endangered sea cucumbers, protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, even as four persons, including Sabari Rajan, a wanted smuggler, who were processing the species, escaped on Tuesday morning.
Acting on a tip-off, the police team, led by Inspector Murugan, raided a coconut grove at Usilankadu Valasai near INS Parundu, the Indian Naval Air Station, and seized the sea cucumbers, partly dead and partly in the first stage of processing.
Police said as the team entered the coconut grove, Sabari Rajan and his accomplices took to their heels. The police chased them, but the accused, who had the advantage of being in the known terrain, escaped.
The police team, comprising Sub-Inspector Mohan Raj, Special SI Kandasamy and Head Constables Murugesan and Mani, seized plastic cans, baskets and aluminium vessels used for boiling the marine species. They also seized three two-wheelers and a van.
Sabari Rajan faced at least four smuggling cases. His accomplices included Vijay Anand, his brother, and M. Adaikalam, the owner of the coconut grove, the police said, adding the fourth accused could not be identified.
The sea cucumbers were handed over to Forest department officials, following which S. Sathish, Forest Range Officer, in-charge of Ramanathapuram range, registered a case.
The seized sea cucumbers would be destroyed after obtaining court order, he said.