Deogarh: After hides, tooth and nails of wild animals, smuggling of snake venom has come to light in the state.
In the drive against racket of wildlife parts, the local police have seized snake venom worth over Rs 1.5 crore and arrested two persons.
Acting on a tip off that the two accused had the venom in their possession and were trying to sell it, a team from Riamal police station in the district went to Tarang village where the deal was underway on Friday.
Before the police could nab them, the accused persons, identified as Kailash Sahoo of Sindurpank and Ranjan Kumar Padhi of Sakhipada village in Sambalpur district, left the village.
The police managed to track their movement and followed them. Finally, the police team arrested them at Sindurpank in Sambalpur.
The police seized snake venom weighing around 1 kg from their possession. The seized venom, which was estimated to cost over Rs 1.5 crore, has been sent to laboratory for test.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the duo had procured the venom from outside the state and brought it to Deogarh for sale, police sources said. Further investigation is on.