RAMANATHAPURAM
In a joint operation, Forest Department, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and Special Branch (Crime) police officials have seized processed sea cucumbers, sea horses, dry pipefish and horse conch meat, all protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, from the residence of a smuggler in Thondi in the district.
Acting on specific intelligence gathered by the forest squad and the WCCB, members of three teams raided the house of Kasinathan, the kingpin of the gang involved in smuggling the endangered species, at Kodipangu in Thondi on Wednesday evening and seized the species.
M.G. Ganesan, Assistant Conservator of Forest, heading a six-member squad, came from Virudhunagar and joined the operation. While T.P. Pradeep, Inspector of Police, headed the WCCB, Danapalan, Inspector of Police, headed Special Branch (Crime) police team, police said.
Sensing trouble, Kasinathan gave a slip to the police and his wife was present at the house when the officials made the seizure. The teams detained two persons – brother and brother-in-law of Kasinathan – who were involved in the smuggling of the endangered species in Thiruvadanai region, the police said.
S. Sathish, Forest Range Officer, said the seized species included 17 kg of processed sea cucumbers, five kg of sea horses, four kg of dry pipefish and 12 kg of horse conch meat. Sea cucumber and sea horse were protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, and pipefish and horse conch were protected under Schedule IV of the Act, he said.