India: Forest Department staff displaying the seized sea cucumbers in Ramanathapuram on Wednesday. Photo: L. Balachandar

A day after seizing 200 kg of endangered sea cucumbers, protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Marine Police of Coastal Security Group (CSG) seized 20 kg of the endangered marine species from Devipattinam seashore on Wednesday.

Acting on a tip-off, a special team led by P.S. Ramesh Kumar and G. Ayyanar, Inspector and Sub-Inspector of Police, CSG, respectively, seized the fresh sea cucumbers which were caught by fishermen, and detained one M. Abdullah (54), who procured them at the behest of smugglers.

Abdullah was handed over to the Forest Department. Forest Range Officer S. Ganeshalingam arrested him under Sections 9, 39, 50 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act. He was produced before a Magistrate Court here, which remanded him in judicial custody.

The accused told the police that he would procure sea cucumbers from fishermen, who inadvertently caught them while fishing, and store them after processing them. He would deliver them to some contacts who would purchase the species in bulk for smugglers. The smugglers operated from Rameswaram, Verkodu and Pamban areas, the police said.

This was the fourth seizure made by the CSG so far this month, after it stepped up the drive against procurement and sale of the protected species. The CSG and the Forest Department in separate and joint operations have seized about 600 kg of the endangered species since August 1.

(Source: The Hindu)