Police have announced that a portion of the confiscated sea cucumbers - those belonging to species banned for export - will be put up for auction.
Police said that the sea cucumbers being put up for auction are types that the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources have informed them are under an export ban.
The sea cucumbers are being auctioned off under the advise of the Prosecutor General's Office, Police added.
The cucumbers were seized in a Police operation carried out in response to a case submitted on December 31, concerning relocation of the sea cucumbers through fraudulent means from a warehouse in Thilafushi to another location. The value of the seized cucumbers come to MVR 2 million, Police have earlier revealed.
The suspects in the case are accused of deceiving the owner and relocating the goods on December 29 through fraudulent means. Police stated that the sea cucumbers were moved from Thilafushi and stored in two residences. Both residences were searched under a court order, and the sea cucumbers were then seized.
The total weight of the seized cucumbers come to 1,438kg, including 787.35kg of varieties under an export ban, Police previously said.
A price list for the auction was also publicized:
- Turtleshell (Giant Beche der Mer): Bid starts at MVR 300
- White Teatfish: Bid starts at MVR 850
- Blackfish Teatfish: Bid starts at MVR 600
- Prickly Redfish: Bid starts at MVR 500
The deadline for registration is March 8. The auction will be held at 10am on March 9 in Dhoonidhoo.
The Police Investigation Officer who had been initially in charge of the case has also been suspended. Police said that the Professional Standards Command is pursuing an administrative investigation against him.
Reports indicate that the sea cucumbers belong to a Chinese national, and a Police officer and an MPL staff are suspected of corruption involving these goods while it was being stored in a Thilafushi warehouse. Police are investigating the matter.
Police said that the accused submitted a case to the Criminal Court on January 26 seeking to reclaim the seized goods.
However, the Court found no legal grounds preventing the goods from remaining in police custody and therefore declined to issue the requested order, Police said.
