Alleged 'smuggler' remanded
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 03 2014: The man, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in a wildlife products smuggling racket yesterday, was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West and remanded to police custody till September 4 today.

Speaking to reporters at his office chamber, Divisional Forest Officer (Central Division) DK Binod said that after getting a specific information regarding transportation of banned wildlife products to the State, Sadar East Range Officer, posted at Tulihal airport was alerted on August 31 .

When Forest officials checked 25 suspicious packets, which were transported to the State together in an Air India flight (A1/711/31), it turned out to be dry Sea Cucumber, DK Binod said.

The packets were kept at the city office of Air India as if nothing was happened, DK Binod said and added that a man identified as Sikender Gill (44) s/o Gurnil of Bathu Pahar, Gurmail Basti Goan, Garacharan, Port Blair came to collect the packets.

He was immediately arrested with the help of police and detained under Wildlife Protection Act 1972 under Section 9/39/44/48(a), 49(b) 50(I) (a)(b)(c) and 51, DK Binod said.

He added that the 25 packets contained 991 dry Sea Cucumbers worth around Rs 60 to 80 lakh in the international market.

DK Binod said that they have sent a report about the incident to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau to enable arrest of the kingpin of the racket.

Saying that his office would submit a chargesheet to the CJM Imphal West against the arrested person, DK Binod added that they would disposed off the seized items in the presence of a Magistrate and the police after taking permission from the Court.

He also said that Sea Cucumbers are in high demand in South East Asian countries, where these are served as delicacies of royal value.

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