Thane, May 14 -- The Crime Branch of police on Tuesday seized a red sand boa snake and arrested an autorickshaw driver who was carrying it with him.

Acting on a tip off that three people were to come to the Retibunder Road at the Kharigaon toll naka to sell the rare species of snake, a police team kept a vigil and spotted an auto driver with a bag with him.

Upon checking, police found that he was carrying the snake in another bag within the bag.

The snake worth about Rs 40 lakh was seized from him, police said and informed that it is used for medicinal or black magic purpose.

Then, police arrested Istiaque alias Javed Ahmed Shaikh (38), a resident of Sathe Nagar in Wagle Estate area of city, in this regard.

An offence under sections 3...