Three detained in Tamil Nadu for trying to smuggle sea cucumbers to Sri Lanka

Thoothukudi: The Tamil Nadu forest officials on Tuesday seized 1,500 kg of endangered sea cucumbers and detained three men who were involved in smuggling them to Sri Lanka's Mannar island. The accused were identified as Naguridhi (21), Murugeshan (23) and Arunachalam (53). These endangered marine species were found in a warehouse in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district. Sea cucumbers play a major role in maintaining the marine's ecological system and have been classified as an endangered species. Their harvest was banned under the Wildlife Protection Act.