Naxalbari, 25th January: The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and personnel of Ghoshpukur and Tukariajhar Forest Department of Kurseong Division seized endangered sea horses before being smuggled. Reportedly, the team received a tip-off about the smuggling of the said endangered species after which they ran a joint operation in the Naxalbari area. During this, they arrested a person and recovered 5 kg of endangered sea horses.
The accused identified as Faiz Ahmed, a resident of Uttar Dinajpur was arrested in the incident. According to the Forest Department, the market price of the recovered sea horse has been estimated at Rs 10 lakh. The accused was about to smuggle the said sea horse to Nepal.
The accused has been produced in the Siliguri Divisional Court today. The Forest Department is probing the entire incident.