A suspect was arrested with a conch shell worth 3.5 million.

A fifty-four-year-old resident of Katupotha, Kurunegala, has been arrested by the police while attempting to sell a 'Valampuri' (a rare conch shell). It is reported that he tried to sell this Valampuri for an exorbitant sum of thirty-five lakhs (3.5 million) rupees.

A team of officers attached to the Kalutara Divisional Criminal Investigation Unit made this arrest in the Nagoda area of Kalutara on the evening of the 8th.

Police officers launched this operation based on a secret tip-off received through a private informant. Accordingly, the police managed to lure the suspect to the SLTB bus depot near Nagoda, Kalutara, using an undercover agent. When the suspect attempted to sell the item to the undercover agent for thirty-five lakhs (3.5 million) rupees, he was apprehended by the officers. Police stated that the seized Valampuri is the outer shell of a very rare and highly legally protected sea snail belonging to the 'Titan' species.

Officers of the Divisional Criminal Investigation Unit have taken steps to hand over the arrested suspect to the South Kalutara Police Station for further legal action. Accordingly, the individual was scheduled to be produced before the Kalutara Magistrate's Court on the 9th.