Kolkata: A person was arrested on Friday from Murshidabad district for trying to smuggle a rare species of takshak snake (gecko) worth Rs 9 crore, police said.
"A man named Isha Seikh was arrested near Murshidabad district's Farakka area with a rare species of takshak on Friday morning during checking. The reptile is of a rare species and costs around Rs 9 crore in the illegal market," an officer from Farakka police station said.
Police said Shiekh caught the creature from a forest in Malda district's Kaliachawk and was supposed to deliver it to two smugglers from Jharkhand.
"The snake has been handed over to the local forest department. It is in a stable condition," the officer said. "The accused has been arrested and produced at Jangipur Sub-Divisional Court. He would be interrogated about his association with wild animal smuggling rackets," he added.