Thane, Nov 5 (PTI) Police have seized more than 500 mg of cobra venom valued at Rs 5.2 crore and arrested five persons, busting an alleged wildlife smuggling syndicate in Maharashtra’s Thane district, officials said on Thursday.
Acting on a tip-off, the police’s Crime Detection Unit laid a trap near Dodia Petrol Pump in the Kashigaon area on October 29.
The police recovered two glass vials containing about 250 mg and 260 mg of cobra venom from Mohammed Danish Fayim Khan (23) and Abdul Karim Rashid Ahmed Shaikh (51), respectively, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Mira Road Division) Ganpat Pingle told reporters.
A third suspect, Faizan Abdul Aziz (30), was also apprehended at the spot and a motorcycle and three mobile phones were seized, he said.
The interrogation and technical follow-ups led the investigation team to two key suppliers — Faruk Ali Abdul Ali (37) and Noor Mohammed Wali Mohammed Shaikh (47) — based at Trombay in the Mankhurd area of Mumbai, and they were also arrested, the official said.
The Kashigaon police have registered a case against the accused under relevant provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, the police added. PTI COR GK
