500 kg of sea cucumber seized near Rameswaram

Around 500 kg of sea cucumber, meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka after being processed, was seized from a farm near Mandapam today, police said.
The sea cucumber was seized following a tip-off received by Mandapam marine police.
When they went to the farm, they found around 10 persons involved in processing the sea cucumber. However, they managed to escape on seeing the police.
The Marine police informed the forest department personnel, who seized sea cucumber.
Sea cucumbers, classified as endangered species and their harvest banned under the Wildlife Protection Act, are in demand in South-East Asian countries.
Around 400 kg of sea cucumber meant to be smuggled to Sri Lanka was seized on September 26 from a coconut grove in Tirappanvalasai near here.