1000 kg of sea cucumber seized in Imphal

Kolkata, September 6, 2014: In a major haul, a large consignment of around 1000 kg of sea cucumber, an endangered marine species worth Rs 60-80 lakh in the international market has been seized at Imphal airport, Manipur Forest department officials said today.

Port Blair-based businessman Sikander Singh Gill was trying to smuggle 25 bags containing approximately 1,000 kg of sea cucumber from Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Myanmar, the sources said.

Sea Cucumbers are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Gill was caught by the Forest department officials at Imphal’s Tuhilal airport and handed over to the police.

The consignment was meant to be smuggled into Myanmar from the Moreh border route.

Source: Assam Tribune