Cops seize snakes worth Rs 3 crore, arrest trio

Mumbai: The Raigad police has arrested three persons who were trying to sell a sand boa (Mandul), and seized three snakes worth over Rs 3 crore from them. The sale of these snakes, which are used for black magic, is prohibited. The police said that the buyers were part of an international wildlife smuggling racket.

The arrested accused have been identified as Jayant Deshmukh (59), Milind More (46) and Rohidas Tandel (44), who were in possession of the endangered species of snake, each of which is priced at around Rs 1.10 crore. The accused had allegedly struck a deal with people belonging to an international gang of wildlife smugglers, and had come to deliver the snakes to their accomplices when they were apprehended.

“The trio and the buyers, whose identities are yet to be ascertained, were to meet at a hotel in the Pali area. After information about the said meeting was verified, we laid a trap at the hotel and identified the accused,” said a Raigad police officer.

Upon checking the trio, the snakes were found to have been kept in one of the yellow carry bags they were carrying. The officials said that it was a confirmed deal but the buyers remained untraceable. These snakes are used for black magic and medicinal purposes and are more in demand outside India.

The police is now probing past deals that the trio might have struck and sold Sand Boas illegally. A case has been registered against the trio under relevant sections of the Wildlife Protection Act and investigation is underway to identify the place from where the accused procured the snakes.