Dugong meat seized

About 150 kg of Dugong

meat was today seized near Keelakarai and one person arrested in this connection.

During a vehicle-check,forest officials found the meat in processed form being transported in an autorickshaw.

It was worth about Rs.15 lakh in the international market, officials said.

Aswar Ali of Periyapattinam was arrested for allegedly smuggling the meat and the autorickshaw seized.

The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal and the country's endangered 'mermaids'. It is is also known as seacow.