Dried seahorses seized, one held

Forest department personnel seized 14 dried seahorses, protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and arrested one person in this connection at Marakkanam in Villupuram district on Sunday evening.

Following directions from the Tamil Nadu Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, a team led by Tindivanam Forest Range Officer P. Bhuvanesh was conducting vehicle checks at Om Sakthi Nagar in Marakkanam when they intercepted one Tameem Ansari, 47, of Koonimedu near Marakkanam, who was riding a two-wheeler.

The team found 14 dried seahorses in his possession and nabbed him. The accused was produced before a local court in Tindivanam and remanded to custody. Further investigation is on.