In a swift operation, on Tuesday 19 Oct 21, Indian Coast Guard (ICG) team at Mandapam have seized 600 kg of banned sea cucumber. Operating on a tip-off about illegal transhipment of sea cucumber, the ICG team swung into action and tracked the suspect Vallam involved in likely smuggling. ICG Team was immediately deployed in Palk Bay area to cordon the likely escape by sea route.
Subsequently, the vallam was found to be anchored off Uchhipalli, Ramanathapuram in the afternoon today. The Vallam was thoroughly rummaged by the team of Indian Coast Guard. The boarding team recovered 31 gunny bags of sea cucumber weighing 600 kgs.
The boat alongwith seized sea cucumbers were brought to Mandapam and handed over to Forest Dept Officials. The value of seized sea cucumbers is reported to be about Three Crore INR.
Sea Cucumber are listed as protected species under Scheduled-I of “Wildlife Protection Act of 1972”.
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