MADURAI: Wildlife officials arrested a man for smuggling 25 kg of sea cucumbers in Tuticorin in the early hours of Tuesday. The sea cucumber is a species protected under the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Forest guard A Balaji and supernumerary plot watcher Robinston from Tuticorin range of the Ramanathapuram wildlife division were on night patrol around 2am when they spotted a man riding on a two-wheeler in a suspicious manner behind St Mary’s College. They found 25 kg of sea cucumbers in two sacks on the two-wheeler.
Kaja Maideen of Mettupatti, who was smuggling the sea cucumbers, was taken to Tuticorin forest range office for interrogation. A case was registered against him.
He has been remanded in judicial custody.