Panaji, Aug 1 (IBNS) The Goa Police have arrested eight persons and confiscated 930 ml of rare snake venom valued at Rs 1.5 crore in the international market.
The Ponda police, in the north district, acted on reliable information that some locals carrying two bottles of the liquid were enroute to meet their customers in Maruti Alto car.
Three persons Avinash Naik, Sainath Pagui and Prashant Naik were apprehended with the bottles.
During interrogation, they revealed names of five other gang members – Shaikh Zahiruddin, Francis Oliveira, Richard Rebello, Suhas Naik and Joseph Gonsalves who were later arrested from the Southernmost Canacona.
The arrests were made late last evening.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced in the state legislative assembly that an inquiry will be constituted to probe whether the venom was being transported for medicine or to be used for manufacturing narcotics.
North Goa Superintendent of Police Vijay Singh told reporters among the total arrested, two accused Richard and Joseph are employed.
“All of them are being interrogated to ascertain the source of snake venom. We will subsequently send it for forensic test in Mumbai laboratory,” he said.
All the accused are booked under section Wildlife Prevent Act, 1972.
