Afghan national held with endangered corals

The Customs officials at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) have seized over 100 kg Red Organ Pipe Corals from an Afghan national, who was trying to smuggle these endangered corals into the country. Officials said the corals, with a high ornamental value, are one of the most traded rare species of corals.

The accused landed at the Delhi airport from Kabul on Monday. The Customs sleuths intercepted him following a tip-off. "On frisking, 114 kg Red Organ Pipe Corals were recovered from his bag. When questioned, he could not give a satisfactory reply. The Wildlife Department officials were then roped in and it was ascertained that the corals were listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)," a senior Customs official said.

The man was then arrested under Section 104 of Customs Act, the officials said. They further said that it is being investigated whether the accused has been involved in such smuggling earlier as well. "We are probing whom he was supposed to deliver these to. As these corals are found largely in the west Pacific region to the south of Japan and near eastern coast of Africa," the officer said.

PRECIOUS GEMS

Organ Pipe Corals are found throughout the west Pacific to the south of Japan, eastern coast of Africa and throughout the Red Sea. They grow only 3-4cm in 20 years.

They are considered one of the organic gem stones, along with pearl, amber, ivory and so on. They are one of the 15 most traded type of corals.

The species is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). A permit is required to bring Organ Pipe Corals or objects made of them in the 158 countries that have signed the CITES Convention.