$15 MILLION SNAKE VENOM HAUL, SIX SMUGGLERS ARRESTED IN INDIA

NEW DELHI- Six members of a suspected international smuggling racket were arrested with an estimated US$15 million (S$20 million) of snake venom hidden in school bags close to Bhutan border in eastern India, officials said Sunday.

The gang were riding two motorbikes and carrying school bags containing three bullet-proof glass containers of the venom when they were arrested by police Saturday in Baikunthpur 
forest area of Jalpaiguri district 
in West Bengal.

• The glass containers are stamped with "Made in France", Pradhan said, adding that the arrested men said the consignment may have arrived from France before they picked it up from Bangladesh for delivery in Bhutan.
• The haul  worth at least 100 crore (S$20 million) on (the) international market. There are three different containers with venom in coco-cola liquid form, white crystals and yellow granule form, P. R. Pradhan, divisional forest officer, Baikunthpur forest division told AFP.
• Extracted venom is mostly used as an antidote for snake bites, which according to World Health Organisation kill an estimated half a million people globally every year. Snake venom is also used in some cosmetics.

The venom is believed to be from a cobra but chemical tests are being conducted to identify the snake species, he said.

Wildlife experts say illegal trade of snake venom and skin is widespread with frequent recoveries reported across India.

However, under Indian law the "milking" of many other snake species is allowed.

Source: Agency