50 kg of seahorses seized, 3 arrested in Tuticorin

Thalamuthunagar police seized about 50 kg of seahorses on Monday and registered cases against three persons in this connection.

The capture and sale of hippocampus, the endangered marine organism commonly known as seahorse, is banned under the Wildlife Act.

Police said nine others, including a cinema house owner, have been detained on suspicion and are being interrogated.

It is suspected that the consignment of seahorses was to be smuggled to Sri Lanka through Thoothukudi.

Police had earlier conducted an intensive search in the area based on a tip-off and recovered 10 kg of seahorses. They arrested Muthuravi (27) of Indiranagar in Thoothukudi and based on information furnished by him arrested two others - Saravanan (27) of Thalamuthunagar and Muthukutty (48) of Thermal Nagar Camp-I, Thoothukudi.

A total of four sacks containing 40 kg of preserved seahorses was also recovered from the duo.

According to SP Y John Nicholson, police are on the lookout for M K Muhaideen (45) of Kayalpattinam, who is alleged to have links with the accused.

The seized consignment is reported to be worth Rs 15 lakh in the international market.

Source: NewIndPress