Venom is extracted form an Ashe spitting cobra. (Representative image)
Credit: REUTERS
Ahmedabad: The Surat police on Monday seized suspected cobra venom worth Rs 5.85 crore and apprehended seven people who were trying to sell it off.
Police said that they acted on a tip off that smuggled Cobra venom was being sold in the market by a gang. The police laid a trap and offered Rs8 crore for the venom using a person acting like a potential buyer.
Subsequently, the gang was convinced and met at a marriage bureau office in Surat. Police said that seven persons were arrested and 6.5 ml of cobra venom was seized from their possession.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rajdipsinh Nakum, told media that it was the biggest seizure of cobra venom in the state till date.
He said that snake venom is used for preparing intoxicating substances, called "snakebite," consumed at rave parties as well as life-saving medicines.
He said that police have registered the case as "janva jog" (station diary entry) and once the forensic examinations establishes the exact substance, a case will be filed in accordance with sections of wildlife protection act, 1972 which makes dealing in snake venom a punishable crime.
Similarly, the recreational use also attracts charges under narcotic drugs.