RAMANATHAPURAM: The Ramanathapuram district police seized 958 kg of processed and semi-processed sea cucumbers from a hideout on Thursday.
The value of the illegally fished species that was to be smuggled to Sri Lanka has been pegged at Rs 20 lakh.
The seizure was based on a tip-off received by district superintendent of police E Karthik.
The raid was conducted on the Vedalai coast by a team from the Mandapam police station. It was led by assistant superintendent of police of Rameswaram sub-division Deepak Siwach.
The team found the sea cucumbers in a coconut grove belonging to Allah Pichai of Vedalai South Street.
The police seized 258 kg of processed and dry sea cucumbers and 694 kg of semi-processed sea cucumbers.
The Mandapam police registered a case under sections 9, 39(1) d(3), 50 and 51(1) of the Wild Life Production Act, 1972. A search was launched to nab the suspects.
Sea cucumber is a Schedule I species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), on a par with tigers, lions and elephants.