Rameswaram: Sea cucumber weighing three tonnes and meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka was seized from Vethalai near here on Tuesday, police said. Two people were arrested in this connection.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of police and forest personnel seized the sea cucumber weighing 3,000 kg and a van used to transport it from a farm in Vethalai near Mandapam.
The value of the seized sea cucumber in the international market is over Rs 1 crore.
The sea cucumber is classified as endangered species and covered under the Wildlife Protection Act and their harvest is prohibited.
The marine species are in demand in Sri Lanka and other South East Asian countries for use as a delicacy and in preparing medicines.
(PTI)
ALSO READ: America polarised like never before: Former Indian envoy
