Sea horse seizures leave Bengal Forest Department in a tizzy

Forest officials are desperate to know how far the network in trafficking in seahorses has spread.

EOI, SILIGURI, JAN 28, 2023: The seizure of a large quantity of dead sea horses in a series of raids in the vicinity of Siliguri has sent the West Bengal Forest Department in a tizzy. 

Forest officials are desperate to know how far the network in trafficking in seahorses has spread. They are also searching for the kingpin of the racket. It is suspected that the dead sea horses are being smuggled to China through Nepal. 

In a recent raid by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau in Ghoshpukur, in the Tikuriajhar Range of the Kurseong Forest Division, five kgs of dead seahorses had been seized and person had been arrested.

Interrogating the arrested person, the Forest Department has seized 8.5 kgs of dried long nose sea horses of an extinct variety and arrested three persons; among them a resident of the Rangeet Tea Estate area of Darjeeling, a resident of Jorebunglow and a resident of Naxalbari. 

Another person, a resident of Naxalbari, believed to be the local kingpin of the trafficking ring, is absconding. 

A search has been initiated to nab him, according to Divisional Forest Officer  Kurseong Forest Division Harikrishnan.