Two arrested for smuggling a snake species going extinct

Red Sand Boa, a snake species which is on the verge of extinction, are being smuggled often. Mumbai Police on Friday arrested two people for smuggling this species and the snake is worth ₹30 lakh.

After the Crime Branch Unit five got the information regarding the smuggling of red sand boa snake, the police arrested both the accused - Vinod Kumar Asharam Maurya (28) and Rajesh Chhote Maurya (35) under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The accused belong to Uttar Pradesh’s Shravasti district. The police are further investigating the case. 

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Red Sand Boa is highly in demand in China, Taiwan, and Malaysia because this species of the snake is auspicious for the people living in these countries. However, in India, the main reason for their demand is believed to be its superstitious significance and the use of the reptile in black magic. Moreover,  this snake is highly useful for research and medicinal purposes. Due to the major hunting, these snakes are on the brink of extinction. 

Earlier in February, Maharashtra Police nabbed five people in Amravati for illegally trying to sell a 4.5 kg snake for whopping ₹2.5 crore.