180 kg of sea cucumbers seized, auto driver held

Sea cucumbers are found in abundance in the Gulf of Mannar region and as they play a vital role in maintaining the marine ecosystem, their fishing has been banned. Various agencies like the Marine Police attached to the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Forest Department and local police keep a close watch on fishing and smuggling activities of sea cucumbers. 

On Sunday morning, local police received an information that sea cucumbers were smuggled via Mandapam to Sri Lanka. 

Following the tip-off, the Mandapam police were involved in vehicle check at the northern coast. On seeing the police, an auto stopped at some distance and a person jumped out of it and absconded. When the auto driver tried to run away following the passenger, police caught him. 

When the autorickshaw was checked, police found nearly 180 kg of sea cucumbers in it. Police arrested the auto driver Shiek Abdul Kadhar and seized the sea cucumbers and the auto used for smuggling the contraband. Then they were handed over to the Forest Department. 

The absconding person was identified as Salim Malik and the Forest Department officials have launched a hunt for him.