About 450 kg of sea cucumber, an endangered marine species, was today seized from a van at a coastal area near Mandapam refugee camp, officials said.
The seizure was made during a routine checking of vehicles by forest department personnel to prevent poaching and smuggling of endangered bird and marine species, they said.
The van sped away ignoring an order to stop and the three occupants managed to jump out and escape, but the officials later traced it and on search found sea cucumbers packed in 23 jute bags.
The value of the seized sea cucumber is about Rs 64 lakh, they said.
