Biggest ever marine wildlife seizure in India

New Delhi, September 22, 2003: In what is being recorded as the biggest ever marine wildlife seizure in the country, over four tons of coral and hundreds of endangered species of sea horses, carapaces of green and Olive Ridley turtles etc. were caught at Diu, a union territory on the western Gujarat coast. The raid is said to have continued for over 24 hours.

The raid, a result of a two-year long intelligence chase, was conducted by officials from the Forest department of Gujarat and the Directorate of Wildlife Preservation, Western Region. The seizure took place at the Sea Shell Museum, a marine wildlife shop located near the airport in Diu. It was owned by a former Merchant Navy man, Captain Devjibhai Phulvaria. He set it up in 2000 after he got the Government’s nod for a ‘private museum’ that would run for educational purposes. As of now, Phulvaria has been remanded to 15 days judicial custody and sent to the Diu jail.

Some of the shells seized are found only in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Gulf of Mannar and can fetch upto Rs. 10,000 for one specimen in the international market. The wildlife items included highly endangered and rare shells (1,050 in number) such as Charonia tritonis, Trochus niloticus, Fasciolaria trapegium, Turbo marmopratus among others, all part of Schedule I, Part IV B of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. A total number of thirty-four Sea Horses were seized. These are found in deep sea and sell for considerable sums in areas where they are in high demand like south east Asia. They are used for medicinal preparations in the region. The value of the contraband has been assessed by the officials to be about Rs. 7 – 8 lakhs in the domestic market and over USD 44,000 in the international market.

Though most of the items seized are part of Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides total protection to these marine species, some also belong to other schedules of the Act. Possessing, selling or trading in these species is completely prohibited under the law and the convicted can be imprisoned upto 7 years with a minimum fine of Rs. 10,000. These offences are non-bailable and cognizable. Many documents pertaining to sale of these products too were recovered during this raid. Of these, some provide vital clues about a thriving marine wildlife trade in other parts of India.

The team was led by officials from the Western Region and the Forest department at Diu. "This was a big catch. I am happy for Snehal Bhatt of the Gujarat Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals who was also part of the raiding team. She is a close associate of WTI and I congratulate the team for this operation". Ashok Kumar, senior advisor and trustee, Wildlife Trust of India said.