India: Police seized 260 kilograms of sea cucumbers - a marine species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act - meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka from Ramanathapuram district on Tuesday.

The Uchipuli police received information about sea cucumbers smuggling in Vattanvalasai coastal hamlet. The police surrounded a house in the village. However, three of the smugglers managed to flee from the spot.

The police recovered 260 kilograms of processed sea cucumbers, utensils, a van and three motorcycles from the spot.

After preliminary investigations, the police handed over the seized items to forest officials at the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.

The absconding accused have been identified as K Sabarirajan and K Vijayanand of Surankuttaivalasai and M Adaikalam of Usilankattuvalasi.

Efforts were on to nab the smugglers, said Mandapam forest ranger S Sathish.

(Source: Times of India)