Somwarpete: Forest Crime Prevention Squad officials have arrested three persons and have seized ivory worth Rs 1.5 crore which they had hidden in their house in the town.

Acting on a tip off, the forest officials raided the residence of one of the accused Somashekhar on May 16, Wednesday and seized the ivory.

The squad officials who had surrounded the house, first sent a man inside posing as a customer for the ivory and to strike upon a deal. The accused who were unaware demanded Rs 50 lakhs for two tusks. Waiting for the right time the others standing outside barged in and arrested Somashekhar, Keerthi of Tulur Shettarlli and one Manohar of Brahmavar. Two others who were in the house during the raid were however successful in giving the officials a slip.

The huge ivory tusk which was seized weighed 48 kg and  costed over Rs 1.5 crore in the market. The case was later handed over to the Somwarpete police.