Gangtok, July 23: Five persons were arrested after a five-hour chase that ended with the smugglers trying to sell around 2kg of cater pillar fungus, known for its aphrodisiac properties, to a decoy.
The decoy used by Gangtok police had struck a deal of Rs 2.7 lakh per kg with the smugglers of Himalayan herb. When the deal was through, a police team led by inspector Tshering Sherpa struck, rounding up the gang at 12.30pm from near the circuit house here.
To throw the police off their scent, the gang had changed position thrice from 8am before agreeing to meet the decoy. From MG Marg to Namnang to the gate of Tashi Namgyal Academy, the gang flitted in and out. Finally, they met the police decoy in front of the circuit house more than four hours later.
“The total weight of the medicinal herbs was 2.10kg,” said Sherpa. “The police had been tipped off about the peddlers.”
Caterpillar fungus or yartcha gombu — scientific name Cordyceps Sinensis — is half-insect (see chart). Although its medicinal properties are yet to be scientifically substantiated, it is famous in the Himalayan belt including Nepal and Bhutan for its aphrodisiac properties. Often, it is known as the Himalayan Viagra.
The consignment had been brought from high altitude regions — 8,000ft and above — of Lachung in North Sikkim. It is also found in East district. A taxi used by the group to ferry the consignment has also been seized.
“We will hand over the consignment and the arrested persons to the wildlife authorities, who will take up the case,” Sherpa said.
The chief wildlife warden of the state, N.T. Bhutia, said the department would register cases against Bhim Bahadur Rai, 20, Pawan Pradhan, 34, Bikash Gurung, 27, Suk Bahadur Subba, 26, and Nar Bahadur Gurung, 47, under the wildlife protection and forest conservation acts.
Under the acts, collection of forest produce from reserve forests, sanctuaries and national parks without prior permission is illegal and attracts penalties of fines and imprisonment depending on the degree of the crime.
Till a couple of years ago, a kg of caterpillar fungus used to fetch as much as $2,000 but its price has come down to $1,500 in recent times, a forest officer said.
Regulated collection and trading of yartcha gombu is allowed in Nepal and Bhutan. Realising that its bio revenue source has been lying untapped, the Sikkim government had in July last year framed rules for sustainable collection and trading of the herb.
Only registered joint forest management committees and eco development committees are allowed to collect the medicinal herbs after permission from the range officer. The permission is given after field verification and approval by the principal chief conservator of forests. Finally, the collection is monitored by a forester not below the rank of block officer.
However, no collection is permitted in the wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. This May, the herb-growing areas were supposed to be surveyed, but the study could not be carried out because of opposition from villagers.
After collection, the herb was to be auctioned by a committee set up by the state government. Of the proceeds, 75 per cent would have remained with the forest management committees who collected the herb. The rest would have been deposited with the government. A forester said the villagers’ objection stemmed from the fact that the government’s rate was low. “If they sold it outside, they will profit more,” said the forester.
