Snake venom worth Rs 1 crore seized at Valpoi

PANAJI: Crime branch on Wednesday seized what is believed to be one litre of high grade snake venom worth 1 crore at Valpoi bustand, besides arresting 31-year-old Mohammad Salim Shaikh.Shaikh was earlier arrested by Pune police in February for illegal possession of two bottles containing snake venom.A senior officer from the crime branch told TOI that relying on information from sources, a crime branch team laid a trap to arrest the accused. Police said that they received information that the accused would come to Valpoi bus stand to deliver the snake venom to a prospective customer.Police added that snake venom is used for medicine and it has a huge demand in the international market.The accused is a resident of Vasco and was staying at a rented house with his wife at Valpoi, police sources informed. Crime branch has registered the case under Wildlife Protection Act. The accused would be produced before court to seek police custody.In August 2012, Ponda police had busted a gang involved in illegal extraction of snake venom and seized 930 ml of snake venom worth 1.5 crore. The police had arrested eight people in the case.