Dried seahorses and shark fins seized, two held

Forest department personnel seized 22 dried seahorses and 34 shark fins, both protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and arrested two persons in this connection at Ekkiyarkuppam near Marakkanam in Villupuram district on Tuesday.

Following directions from the Tamil Nadu Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and District Forest Officer K. Karthikeyani, a team led by Tindivanam Forest Range Officer P. Bhuvanesh was conducting vehicle checks at Ekkiyarkuppam when they intercepted one Mohammed Ismail, 59 of Cuddalore district who was riding a two-wheeler. The team found 22 dried seahorses in his possession and nabbed him.

Based on his confession, the police conducted searches at a handicraft store belonging to his friend Ahmad in Cuddalore and seized 34 shark fins. The accused were produced before a local court in Tindivanam and remanded to custody. Further investigations are on.