Police seize shark fins, parts of rays, that were to be smuggled from Thoothukudi to Sri Lanka
The Hindu
The Q-Branch police made the seizure at a beach in Thoothukudi on Thursday night
The Q-Branch police in Thoothukudi seized processed parts of marine rays and sharks, worth ₹60 lakh, even as these products were about to be smuggled to Sri Lanka, on Thursday night.
Sources in the Q-Branch said their team, led by Inspector Vijaya Anita, was patrolling along the East Coast Road and nearby beaches on Thursday night. When they went to the Akkarai Beach near Vembar, they found a jeep parked at a secluded spot, and checked the vehicle. They found shark fins and parts of marine rays, all processed, and packed in 11 bags.
The police team seized the products and also arrested the jeep driver, K. Syed Shahul Hameed, 34, of Vedhaalai in Ramanathapuram district. He told the police that the fish parts were about to be smuggled to Sri Lanka by boat.
Later, the Q-Branch police handed over Syed Shahul Hameed and the seized marine products to Customs Department officials for further investigation.